TWO people who plotted an armed hit on a caravan in Ceredigion have been found guilty of conspiracy to murder following a two-week trial at Swansea Crown Court.

The court heard how Michelle Mills and Geraint Berry planned to kill Christopher Mills so they could continue their affair.

A third defendant, Steven Thomas, who was alleged to have been recruited by Berry to assist with the plan, was found not guilty of conspiracy to murder. He had earlier admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause Mr Mills to believe that unlawful violence would be used against him or another person.

Prosecutors said Mills and Berry intended to murder Mr Mills and stage the scene to look like a suicide.

Armed attack

Dyfed-Powys Police received a 999 call shortly after 11:30pm on September 20, 2024, reporting that two masked men armed with guns had entered a caravan in Cenarth and attacked Mr Mills.

Despite being badly beaten, the victim fought the two men off before they fled.
The emergency call came from Michelle Mills, aged 46, who claimed her husband had sustained a head injury and said the masked men were unknown to her.

Armed officers, dog units and the NPAS helicopter were deployed and quickly located Berry, aged 46, and Thomas, aged 47, hiding in nearby undergrowth.

They were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary. Officers found gas masks and a fake suicide note addressed to Mills, purporting to have been written by her husband.

The investigation

Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department launched a major inquiry which soon established that Mills, of Maes Ty Gwyn, Llangennech, Llanelli, had helped plan the attack.

Although she initially claimed she had “no idea” why her husband was targeted, investigators discovered she was fully aware of the ambush and had been in a relationship with Berry for around three months.

Digital forensic work uncovered messages between Mills and Berry discussing ways to kill Mr Mills. One message from August 7 read that he “should just die”.

By August 9, the pair were plotting how Berry could arrange a “hit” on Mr Mills. Mills spoke of poisoning him with sleeping tablets, while Berry sought a gun with a suppressor and even asked how to make a Mini Cooper S explode on starting — the model her husband drove.

When Berry told Mills he was meeting “the boys” to plan “what they are going to do with him,” she replied: “Yes, lovely, thank you.”
Her only concern was that they did not get caught.

Crucial evidence

Detective Inspector Sam Gregory of Dyfed-Powys Police said the digital evidence proved decisive: “The communication between Mills and Berry made it clear that since June 2024 they had begun a secret relationship. Berry, encouraged by Mills, became increasingly obsessed with harming her husband.

“Although Mills later claimed the talk of murder was fantasy, the pair made repeated, detailed plans to kill him.”

Messages showed two aborted attempts to reach Mr Mills’ caravan on August 28 and 29, with Berry injuring his knee during one visit. On the third attempt, September 20, Mills told Berry she would get her husband drunk so he would fall asleep.

Berry texted to say he had arrived at the caravan park moments before the attack. After the intruders fled, Mills messaged him: “Police have been called, get away, delete all communications … please on both phones … I love you.”

DI Gregory said Berry and Mills had also discussed using gas to make Mr Mills’ death appear to be suicide. Both Berry and Thomas carried gas masks, and officers later found the fake suicide note.

“What’s clear,” DI Gregory said, “is that these items were not intended to frighten Mr Mills — they were part of a plan to fake his suicide.”

Guilty verdicts

Mills was arrested and charged with conspiracy to murder her husband. When detained, she reportedly told officers: “I’m going to prison for this, aren’t I?”

Berry and Thomas, both of Clos Coffa, Clydach, faced the same charge, which all three denied.

After a two-week trial, the jury found Michelle Mills and Geraint Berry guilty of conspiracy to murder.

Steven Thomas was found not guilty of that charge but had previously admitted the firearm offence.

DI Gregory said: “While this case has all the makings of a TV drama, it was a very real conspiracy to take someone’s life. Mills and Berry plotted not one, but three attempts to kill Mr Mills.

“Thanks to the courage of the victim and the diligence of our officers, those responsible will now face the consequences.”

Michelle Mills, Geraint Berry and Steven Thomas will be sentenced on December 19.