A woman, Ethel Mills, and her lover, Geraint Berry, have been sentenced to 19 years each after being found guilty of planning an armed attack on her husband in their caravan in south-west Wales.
Ethel, 46, known as Michelle, and her lover, also 46, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder Christopher Mills following an attack on the couple’s caravan in Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, on September 20, 2024.
The sentences were handed down at Swansea Crown Court.
According to the BBC, Mills was attacked by two masked men carrying guns, gloves and cable ties. One of the attackers was identified as Berry, a former marine from Clydach, Swansea.
The second man, Steven Thomas, 47, who was recruited by Berry, was acquitted of conspiracy to murder. He was jailed for 12 months after admitting possession of a firearm used in the attack and will be released after time already spent in custody.
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During sentencing, the court was told the attack had “virtually ruined his life” and left Mr Mills suffering flashbacks. Jailing the former lovers, presiding judge Mr Justice Nicklin said there had been “significant planning and premeditation” although the plot was “poorly executed”.
Christopher and Michelle Mills had been married for six years when she began an affair with Berry. All three worked at a charity for homeless veterans. Within weeks of the affair, Mills and Berry were exchanging messages about killing her husband and making it look like a suicide.
According to the bbcTwo previous attempts to carry out the plan in late August 2024 failed after Berry was injured.
The last attempt took place late on September 20. Testifying at the trial, Mr Mills said he and his wife were listening to music at around 11.30pm after eating together.
“Michelle had been on the phone,” he told the court. “I assumed he was playing. Apparently not.”
He described how he was attacked when he opened the door to the caravan.
“When I opened the door, he literally hit me right in the face with a gun, ‘Back off, get down,’ he told me.
“I punched him in the face. I took the gun from him. He was dressed in overalls and a balaclava. He was much bigger than me.”
The BBC reports that Mills managed to take both weapons from the attackers. Berry and Thomas fled on foot after their car was blocked and then hid in brush at a nearby quarry.
After the men fled, Michelle Mills called 999 and told police that two armed, masked men had attacked her husband. She claimed she didn’t know who they were.
Armed officers, a dog unit and a police helicopter were sent to the scene near Newcastle Emlyn. Berry and Thomas were later found hiding in a hedge by heat-detecting helicopter cameras and arrested.
Police are searching for gas masks, balaclavas, cable ties and a fake suicide note that appears to have been written by Mr. Mills.
Officers also found text messages between Mills and Berry about Mr. Mills’ murder. A message sent on August 7 said Mills “should just die.”
There were also messages about poisoning him with sleeping pills and shooting him. The jury heard that Berry had asked about the purchase of weapons and ammunition and about sabotaging Mr Mills’ car.
After the attack, Michelle sent a message to Berry asking him to delete her communications.
“They called the police, stay away, delete all communications… please on both phones… I love you.”
When she was charged with conspiracy to murder, Michelle asked officers: “I’m going to go to prison for this, right?”
Michelle Mills was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice and jailed for 18 months in addition to her 19-year sentence. Berry was also found guilty of possession of an imitation firearm and received an additional 18-month sentence to run concurrently.
(BBC)