A woman, Ethel Mills, and her lover, Geraint Berry, have been jailed for 19 years each after they were convicted of plotting an armed attack on her husband at their caravan in south-west Wales.

The 46-year-old Ethel, known as Michelle, and her lover, also 46 years old, were convicted of conspiracy to murder Christopher Mills following an attack at the couple’s caravan in Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, on 20 September 2024.

The sentences were handed down at Swansea Crown Court.

According to the BBC, Mr 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, 47-year-old Steven Thomas, who was recruited by Berry, was cleared 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 the time already spent on remand.

During sentencing, the court was told the attack had “pretty much ruined his life” and left Mr Mills suffering flashbacks. Jailing the former lovers, the 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 homeless charity for 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 BBC, two earlier attempts to carry out the plan in late August 2024 failed after Berry injured himself.

The final attempt took place late on 20 September. Giving evidence at the trial, Mr Mills said he and his wife were listening to music at about 23:30 after eating together.

“Michelle had been on her phone,” he told the court. “I assumed she was playing a game. Apparently not.”

He described how he was attacked when he opened the caravan door.

“As I opened the door, he literally hit me right in the face with a pistol, ‘Get back, get down,’ he was saying.

“I punched him in his face. I pulled his pistol off of him. He was dressed in overalls with balaclavas. He was a lot bigger than me.”

BBC reports that Mr Mills managed to take both guns from the attackers. Berry and Thomas fled on foot after their car was blocked, later hiding in the undergrowth 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 did not 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-seeking helicopter cameras and arrested.

Police searches uncovered gas masks, balaclavas, cable ties, and a fake suicide note made to look as though it was written by Mr Mills.

Officers also found text messages between Mills and Berry discussing killing Mr Mills. One message sent on 7 August said Mr Mills “should just die”.

There were also messages about poisoning him with sleeping pills and shooting him. The jury heard Berry had asked about buying guns and ammunition and about sabotaging Mr Mills’ car.

After the attack, Michelle sent Berry a message asking him to delete their communications.

“Police have been called, get 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 prison for this, aren’t I?”

Michelle Mills was also convicted of perverting the course of justice and jailed for 18 months, to run alongside her 19-year sentence. Berry was also convicted of possessing an imitation firearm and given an additional 18-month sentence to run concurrently. (Nigerian Tribune)

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