A woman and her secret lover have each been sentenced to 19 years in prison for conspiring to murder her husband in a chilling plot that involved gas masks and a fake suicide note.
The Caravan Attack and Foiled Plan
Michelle Mills, 46, and Geraint Berry, 46, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder Christopher Mills following a trial at Swansea Crown Court in October. Their plan unravelled on 20 September last year when police were called to a caravan in Cenarth, Ceredigion, following reports of masked men armed with guns.
The armed men, who were later identified as Berry and a third individual, Steven Thomas, 47, assaulted Mr Mills inside the caravan. Despite sustaining serious injuries, Christopher Mills managed to fight off his attackers, who then fled the scene.
Chilling Evidence of a Premeditated Plot
Michelle Mills made an emergency call claiming her husband had a head injury and that the armed assailants were strangers to her. However, a police helicopter quickly located Berry and Thomas hiding in nearby undergrowth.
When officers searched the pair, they discovered a haul of sinister items that revealed the true intent of their mission. They were found in possession of gas masks, a fake suicide note purportedly written by Mr Mills, a gun, and cable ties.
Detective Inspector Sam Gregory stated the evidence pointed to a settled plan to gas Mr Mills to death while making it appear he had taken his own life. "Berry had asked Mills where the boiler was, and he and Thomas carried gas masks that would have protected themselves while Mr Mills suffocated," he said.
Digital Trail and Secret Affair
Police swiftly established Michelle Mills's involvement in the conspiracy. A digital investigation uncovered that she and Berry had been engaged in a clandestine relationship for approximately three months. Their messages included discussions about various methods to kill Christopher Mills.
The court heard that Berry had researched options including having Mr Mills shot and even rigging his Mini car to explode upon ignition. In one damning exchange, when Berry told Mills he was meeting with "boys" to plan "what they are going to do with him", she replied: "Yes, lovely, thank you."
The judge, during sentencing on Friday 19 December 2025, noted that the gas masks indicated the finalised method was to poison Mr Mills with gas.
Sentencing and Co-Defendant
Steven Thomas was found not guilty of conspiracy to murder but pleaded guilty to a firearms charge. He was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment but was released immediately due to time already served on remand.
Detective Inspector Gregory emphasised the premeditated nature of the crime, stating: "What's clear is that these were not being used to frighten Mr Mills - they were there to set up a fake suicide." No explanation was ever provided by the defendants for the fake suicide note or the gas masks.
Michelle Mills, of Llangennech in Carmarthenshire, and Geraint Berry will now serve substantial prison terms for their roles in the meticulously planned but ultimately foiled murder.
