Maris Galea: Beloved grandmother Cheryl welcomed her son-in-law into her huge family. Then he tried to hire a hitman to execute her

EXCLUSIVE

A grandmother whose former son-in-law plotted to have a hitman kill her has broken her silence about the terrifying ordeal and explained how his evil plan unravelled.

Cheryl Brewin, who lives in Sydney's western suburbs, is relieved to be alive, two years after her daughter Amanda's ex-husband Maris Galea hatched his murder-for-hire scheme. 

'I'm obviously still here, I'm alive... thank God!' she told Daily Mail Australia. 

'Frightening? Yes, it was.'

It's understood Galea tried to recruit a hitman online to carry out the contract killing - but the 'hitman' turned out to be an undercover cop.

Galea was swiftly arrested soon after as he tried to hand over the cash. He has been remanded in custody ever since. 

Galea, 35, has pleaded guilty to soliciting, persuading or encouraging another to murder and contravening an apprehended violence order.

The electrician had been ordered by court not to contact the grandmother.

But he admitted he 'engaged another person' to breach the apprehended violence order that was meant to protect the woman and threaten her safety.

According to Galea's former neighbour in Berkshire Park in Sydney's north-west, the individual hired to 'knock off' Ms Brewin was in fact an undercover police officer.

'I was around the day he [Galea] was arrested, the street swarmed with undercover cops,' the neighbour recalled.

'Once he handed the money over to the undercover copper, police busted him.' 

Neighbours recalled Galea having a short temper which could flare up over nothing.

'One minute he was polite and friendly, the next he was your worst enemy,' the neighbour said.

Daily Mail Australia understands that Galea and his former wife were separated at the time he was planning the hit on his then-mother-in-law.

'He's not my son-in-law anymore... they're divorced,' Ms Brewin revealed, adding that her main concern was her innocent grandchild. 

No specific motive for the attempted hitman execution has yet been revealed.

Galea was recently excused from appearing at Penrith District Court where his matters were mentioned.

A set of draft facts, which have not yet been signed by Galea, were tendered to the court on the basis 'they could be subject of dispute', while a date was set for a sentencing hearing estimated to take three hours.

The court ordered a sentence assessment report to be tendered on the next occasion to help determine suitable sentence options.

He will remain in custody and return to Penrith District Court on October 18.