EditorWife and lover jailed for 19 years each after plotting to murder her husband in armed caravan ambush
Michelle Mills and Geraint Berry, both 46, were sentenced after a jury found them guilty of conspiracy to murder Christopher Mills, Michelle’s husband of ten years. The case exposed months of planning, chilling discussions about how to kill him, and a final ambush that only failed because the victim fought back.
A plot to clear the way for an affair
The court heard that Mills and Berry had been in a secret relationship for several months and were desperate to remove Mr Mills from their lives. Detectives uncovered messages showing the pair discussing a range of ways to kill him, from poisoning him in his sleep to staging a shooting or causing his car to explode. The intention, police said, was to make his death look like a suicide so they could continue their relationship without suspicion.
Two failed attempts before the caravan attack
Investigators found that the pair had already made two aborted attempts to attack Mr Mills in late August 2024. Berry injured his knee during one of the failed raids, but the planning continued. Messages between the pair showed Mills encouraging Berry and reassuring him that she would make sure her husband was vulnerable when the time came.
The night the plot came to life
The final attempt took place on 20 September 2024 at a caravan in Cenarth, Ceredigion, where Mills and her husband were staying. Mills encouraged Mr Mills to drink so he would fall asleep, while Berry messaged her moments before he and a second man, Steven Thomas, burst into the caravan wearing masks and carrying imitation firearms.
Despite being beaten, Mr Mills fought back and managed to raise the alarm. Armed officers, dog units and the police helicopter were deployed, and Berry and Thomas were found hiding in nearby undergrowth. Mills herself dialled 999, pretending to be an innocent bystander with no idea why her husband had been targeted.
A fake suicide note and a web of lies
When officers searched Berry and Thomas, they found gas masks, imitation firearms and a typed suicide note purporting to be from Mr Mills. Detectives said this discovery changed the entire direction of the investigation, revealing that the attack was not a random burglary but a planned killing.
Mills continued to deny any involvement, insisting she had no idea why her husband had been attacked. But digital forensic work quickly linked her to Berry and exposed the affair, along with months of messages discussing how to kill her husband. Officers said she never once tried to stop the plot — her only concern was not being caught.
Composite image of Michelle Mills and Geraint Berry, who were both found guilty of conspiracy to murder. (Image: Dyfed‑Powys Police)“Cold and calculated” – detective condemns pair’s lack of remorse
Detective Inspector Sam Gregory said the case had been one of the most disturbing his team had dealt with, describing Mills and Berry as “cold and calculated individuals” who had shown “no remorse for the devastation they caused.”
He said the dramatic twists of the case should not distract from the reality that Christopher Mills’ life was genuinely at risk.
DI Gregory said:
“It is easy to get carried away by the dramatic details in this case, with its many twists and turns, and to forget that there is a victim behind the sensational headlines and lurid media stories.”
He added that the betrayal at the heart of the plot was almost as shocking as the violence itself.
“Mr Mills’ life was truly at risk, and the person he should have been able to trust the most was behind the plans to harm him.”
The detective said the pair had never accepted responsibility for what they had done.
“Despite their not guilty pleas, and claims that the plots to kill Mr Mills were just fabrications, the evidence showed that Mills and Berry’s conspiracy was very real and that there had been multiple attempts to bring their plots to fruition.”
He said the investigation had revealed a level of planning and persistence that left officers in no doubt about the pair’s intentions.
“I believe both Mills and Berry are cold and calculated individuals, who have shown no remorse for their actions despite the devastation they have caused.”
Sentences handed down
Mills and Berry were each jailed for 19 years for conspiracy to murder. Thomas, who had earlier admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, was sentenced to 12 months — time already served on remand.
DI Gregory said he hoped the sentencing would allow Mr Mills to begin rebuilding his life after what he described as an “unimaginable” ordeal.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Pair guilty of conspiracy to murder after armed caravan attack
The original report on the violent attack that left the victim with serious injuries and exposed the couple’s plot.
Serial sex offender jailed after targeting women across South Wales
A 35‑year‑old man has been jailed for two years after exposing himself and sexually assaulting women across Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Merthyr.
Serial shoplifter jailed after £861 spree targeting Swansea stores
A repeat offender who stole food and alcohol from convenience stores across Swansea has been jailed for five months.
