Military veteran 'intimidated' into attacking man in caravan

A military veteran accused of conspiring to kill another man at a caravan was "intimidated" into taking part by an ex-marine who was the secret lover of the plot victim's wife, a court has heard.

Steven Thomas, 47, from Blaengwynfi, Nearth Port Talbot, denies conspiring to murder Christopher Mills along with fellow veteran Geraint Berry, 46, from Clydach, Swansea, and Mr Mills' wife, Ethel, 46, known as Michelle.

Mr Mills was attacked by two masked men in Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, in September 2024. All three of the accused deny conspiracy to murder.

"I had no idea what he was going to do," Mr Thomas told Swansea Crown Court, adding he believed Mr Berry "just wanted a fight with someone".

Christopher Mills was attacked by two masked men in his caravan in September 2024

Speaking in court on Tuesday, Mr Thomas told the jury he lived in the same flat complex as Mr Berry, and that he had agreed to "help him" because Mr Berry told him a man had done something to his daughter.

Mr Thomas appeared tearful in the witness stand, describing Mr Berry as "intimidating" and "overpowering".

The jury heard Mr Thomas had found his brother dead having taken his own life a matter of weeks before the attack, which took place on 20 September 2024.

On that day, Mr Thomas told the court he drove Mr Berry to the caravan site with him "guiding" them on Google Maps.

"I didn't really think anything was going to happen," Mr Thomas said. "I thought he might be beating someone up, after what he said about his daughter."

However, when Mr Berry passed him a balaclava and a gun as they headed towards the caravan site, he said he panicked.

He recalled Mr Berry telling him, "don't worry, it doesn't work" as he handed over a gun.

"I was in panic at that point, I just wanted to get away," Mr Thomas said.

Crime scene photos from the caravan show two guns recovered by police

The jury previously heard how Mr Berry had been in a secret relationship with Mr Mills' wife over the past three months, during which time the couple had shared fantasies about killing her husband.

Mr Thomas said he had never met Mr Mills – and had only met Michelle Mills after his brother's death – in her capacity as the manager of his flat complex with the homeless charity for veterans, Alabaré.

Mr Thomas told the jury he was trying to keep Mr Berry "sweet" when he sent him a text that read, "anything you need brother, I'll be there".

Another text, in which Mr Thomas said he was "going to dress up" that evening, was read to the jury.

"I just wanted to show I was on side," he said, as he told the jury Mr Berry had asked him to wear dark clothing.

A crime scene photo of one of the guns

He told the court he was "too scared" to tell Mr Berry he did not want to go to the caravan.

"I was just following him," he added. "We didn't agree to anything. I agreed to give him a lift and that was it."

Following the attack, in which Mr Mills fought off the masked men, armed police found both Mr Berry and Mr Thomas hiding in undergrowth near the caravan site.

The three defendants deny conspiring to murder Mr Mills.

Ms Mills, from Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, also denies perverting the course of justice by deleting messages and giving police a false account.

The trial continues.