Husband Fights Off Attack in Botched Murder Plot, Wife and Lover Jailed for 19 Years
Table of Contents
A couple has been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after orchestrating a violent plot to murder a husband so they could begin a new life together. The case, described by the judge as a “chilling reality” thwarted by the victim’s courage, highlights the dangerous consequences of infidelity and premeditated violence.
Michelle Mills, 46, and Geraint Berry, 47, were each handed a 19-year sentence at Swansea Crown Court for conspiracy to murder. The pair planned to kill Christopher Mills, Michelle’s husband, to facilitate their ongoing affair. Berry recruited Steven Thomas, 47, to assist in the attack, which took place on September 20 of last year.
Caravan Attack Foiled by Victim’s Bravery
The attempted murder unfolded at a static caravan in Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, shared by Christopher and Michelle Mills. Berry and Thomas, masked and armed with imitation handguns, gas masks, pliers, and cable ties, ambushed Christopher Mills. Despite being severely injured, the victim managed to fight off his attackers, forcing them to flee the scene. Michelle Mills subsequently called 999 shortly after 11:30 PM, reporting a head injury to her husband but falsely claiming ignorance of the attackers’ identities.
Affair and Premeditation Revealed in Court
The trial revealed that Berry, an ex-marine, had been engaged in a secret relationship with Michelle Mills for approximately three months prior to the assault. During this time, Berry reportedly shared fantasies with Mills about killing her husband. Crucially, text messages between the pair – deleted by Mills but preserved on Berry’s phone – provided damning evidence of their premeditation.
According to the sentencing judge, Mr Justice Nicklin KC, these messages represented the “chilling reality” of the plan. He emphasized that while the plot was “incompetent” and unlikely to succeed, the intent to kill was undeniable.
Sentencing and Additional Charges
In addition to the 19-year sentence for conspiracy to murder, Michelle Mills received an 18-month concurrent sentence for perverting the course of justice, stemming from her deletion of incriminating text messages. Berry was also sentenced to 18 months, running concurrently, for possession of the imitation firearm, a charge he had previously admitted.
Steven Thomas, described by the judge as playing a “subordinate role” in the attack, received a 12-month sentence for possessing an imitation firearm, also previously admitted.
“Together with Michelle Mills you planned to kill Christopher Mills,” Nicklin stated during sentencing. “You devised the plan and led its execution…However incompetent the plan was…your intention was to kill.” He further noted that Mills had “cultivated and exploited Geraint Berry’s animosity towards your husband and encouraged him to find a way to get rid of your husband, not in fantasy but reality.”
Victim’s Devastation and Lasting Trauma
The court heard victim impact statements from Christopher Mills, who described being left “devastated” by his wife’s betrayal and the “cold and calculated” nature of the plot. He stated that the attack had fundamentally changed him, leaving him anxious, unable to trust others, and increasingly withdrawn.
Michelle and Christopher Mills, both ex-forces personnel, had been married since 2018 and resided at Maes Ty Gwyn, Llangennech, Swansea. The affair between Michelle Mills and Berry reportedly began in June 2024.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of infidelity and the lengths to which individuals will go when consumed by dangerous obsessions. The victim’s remarkable courage in fighting off his attackers ultimately prevented a tragic outcome, but the emotional scars of this betrayal will undoubtedly endure.
