The conviction and sentencing of Michelle Mills has brought to a close a case that laid bare a calculated conspiracy rooted in deception, betrayal and a willingness to resort to extreme violence. At Swansea Crown Court, Mills, 46, was sentenced to 19 years in prison after being found guilty of conspiring to murder her husband, Christopher Mills, alongside her secret lover, former marine Geraint Berry.
The plot, which involved a third man and an attempted staged killing at a remote static caravan, ultimately failed only because of the victim’s ability to fight back and survive a brutal attack. The case has since prompted renewed scrutiny of how intimate relationships can escalate into criminal conspiracies, as well as the evidential role of digital communications in modern prosecutions.
The court heard that the conspiracy was not a momentary lapse or impulsive act but a plan developed over weeks, driven by a clandestine affair and reinforced through explicit discussions about murder. The sentences handed down reflected the seriousness of the offence, the level of planning involved and the lasting psychological harm inflicted on the victim, who survived but whose life was irrevocably altered.
The Affair and the Development of a Murder Plot
Michelle Mills and Christopher Mills married in 2018 and lived together in Llangennech, near Llanelli, sharing a life that outwardly showed no obvious signs of crisis. Both were former members of the armed forces, and there was no indication, according to evidence heard in court, that Christopher Mills was aware of any major difficulties in the marriage. That stability, however, masked a secret relationship that Michelle Mills had begun in June 2024 with Geraint Berry, a 47-year-old former marine from Clydach, Swansea.
What initially began as an affair soon took a darker turn. The prosecution outlined how Mills and Berry exchanged messages in which they discussed violent fantasies centred on killing Christopher Mills. These were not abstract or fleeting thoughts. According to the trial, Berry shared detailed ideas about how the killing could be carried out, and Mills actively encouraged those discussions. The judge later concluded that she had cultivated Berry’s hostility towards her husband and urged him to find a way to remove him permanently.
The messages between the pair became a crucial part of the prosecution’s case. While Michelle Mills deleted many of her messages, Berry retained his, providing investigators with what the judge described as the “chilling reality” of their intentions. These communications demonstrated not only a shared desire to kill but also a developing plan that moved beyond fantasy into preparation.
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Berry ultimately took on the role of organiser. Drawing on his military background, he devised a plan to attack Christopher Mills and make his death appear to be a suicide. To assist him, Berry recruited Steven Thomas, 47, from Blaengwynfi in the Afan Valley. The court heard that Thomas played a subordinate role, acting largely under Berry’s direction.
The Night of the Attack at the Static Caravan
The attack took place on the night of 20 September last year at a static caravan in Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, which Christopher and Michelle Mills shared. The caravan, separate from their main home, offered seclusion and was identified by the conspirators as a suitable location for the planned killing.
Berry and Thomas arrived at the caravan masked and equipped with imitation firearms, gas masks, pliers and cable ties, all carried in a rucksack. The items were intended to subdue Christopher Mills and facilitate the staging of his death. Evidence presented to the court indicated that Berry was intoxicated at the time, yet still determined to carry out the plan.
The attack itself was violent and sudden. Christopher Mills was assaulted and suffered serious injuries, including a head injury. Despite being outnumbered and attacked by masked assailants, he managed to resist. In a struggle that the judge later described as an act of remarkable courage and fortitude, he fought off both attackers. Unable to complete their plan, Berry and Thomas fled the scene.
Shortly after 11.30pm, Michelle Mills called emergency services to report that her husband had suffered a head injury, stating that she did not know who the masked attackers were. This call, along with her actions before and after the incident, later formed the basis of an additional charge of perverting the course of justice.
Christopher Mills survived the attack but required medical treatment for his injuries. His survival was not anticipated by the conspirators and directly led to the exposure of the plot. Subsequent police investigations uncovered the extent of the planning involved, the roles played by each participant and the incriminating digital evidence left behind.
The Trial, Sentencing and Lasting Impact
At Swansea Crown Court, Michelle Mills and Geraint Berry were both convicted of conspiracy to murder and sentenced to 19 years in prison. In addition, Mills received an 18-month sentence, to run concurrently, for perverting the course of justice, reflecting her attempt to conceal the truth of the attack and her role in it. Berry received a concurrent 18-month sentence for possession of an imitation firearm, a charge he had previously admitted.
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Steven Thomas, whom the judge described as having a subordinate role, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for possession of an imitation firearm, also a charge he had admitted prior to sentencing. In his remarks, Mr Justice Nicklin KC emphasised the seriousness of the conspiracy and Berry’s leadership role. He stated that Berry had devised the plan, recruited Thomas and equipped himself with items clearly demonstrating an intention to kill Christopher Mills and disguise the act as a suicide.
While acknowledging that the plan was poorly executed and unlikely to succeed, the judge stressed that the intention to kill was unequivocal. Addressing Michelle Mills directly, the judge highlighted her active encouragement of the plot. He noted that while Berry may have been largely responsible for devising the method, Mills had supported and motivated him to carry it out. Her deletion of messages, the judge said, showed that she knew their content was incriminating and that she understood the gravity of what she had done.
Victim impact statements provided a stark account of the consequences of the attack. Christopher Mills told the court that he struggled to comprehend how “cold and calculated” the plot had been. He spoke of the devastation of discovering his wife’s affair and her involvement in the attempt on his life. Since the attack, he said, he had become a changed person, living with anxiety, hypervigilance and an inability to trust others. He described withdrawing socially and emotionally, highlighting the long-term psychological damage caused by the events of that night.
The case also underscored the evidential importance of digital communications in modern criminal investigations. Text messages that were initially intended to remain private became central to establishing intent and premeditation. The contrast between Mills deleting her messages and Berry retaining his proved significant in reconstructing the conspiracy.
Beyond the individual sentences, the case has drawn attention to the dynamics of manipulation and encouragement within criminal partnerships. The judge’s findings suggested that Mills played a key role in reinforcing Berry’s violent ideas, demonstrating how influence within an intimate relationship can contribute to serious criminal conduct.
The attempted murder at Cenarth ultimately failed, but the consequences have been severe and enduring. Three lives have been irrevocably altered, one by lasting trauma, and others by lengthy prison sentences. The court’s decision to impose substantial custodial terms reflected not only the gravity of the offence but also the need to recognise the profound harm inflicted, even where a murder plot does not succeed.