Pembroke Castle Novichok hoaxer 'pathetic', says judge

John ap Evans told police the Novichok attack in Salisbury had been "lies"

A retired teacher who carried out a series of Novichok hoaxes at a Welsh castle has been described as "sad, pathetic individual" by a judge.

John ap Evans, 67, from Pembroke, put bottles labelled "Novichok" at Pembroke Castle on five occasions in 2018, four months after the Salisbury poisonings.

He admitted five charges of placing an item to induce belief it was likely to contain a noxious substance.

At Swansea Crown Court he received a suspended sentence of 21 months.

The court heard his actions led to the evacuation of the area.

The court heard John ap Evans's actions led to the evacuation of the area around Pembroke Castle

As well as police and fire crews, the response involved the UK's leading chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defence experts who had been involved in the Salisbury investigations, as well as scientists from Porton Down science park in Wiltshire, who analysed the contents of each of the bottles.

Ap Evans, from Northgate Street, was arrested after police set up a hidden camera.

'Art installation'

He had been due to stand trial but later changed his plea to guilty to all five charges.

He told police the liquid was a mixture of tomato ketchup, brown sauce and water.

Ap Evans, who declined to have any legal representation, told the court he had not intended to cause any harm and had placed the bottles as part of an art installation.

The 67-year-old placed bottles labelled "Novichok" at Pembroke Castle on five occasions

The court heard ap Evans gave police a number of explanations for his actions in interviews, but on one occasion said he wanted people to know that events in Salisbury had been "lies".

Police found internet searches on his home computer related to the incidents and the nerve agent Novichok.

In a witness impact statement read to the court, a member of the castle's staff said the incidents had caused a lot of worry, adding her daughter was "inconsolable" at school following the first incident.

Ap Evans was also handed 15 days of rehabilitation activity, 200 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £2,400 compensation to the castle.

'Distorted thinking'

Judge Paul Thomas QC said ap Evans was not considered to be a genuine threat to society, but his actions were the result of a "stupid escapade" committed by a "sad, pathetic individual who wanted to bring some excitement into your life".

He said the rehabilitation activity was to "address your distorted thinking".

"I hope you will realise just how foolish you have been," he added.

After sentencing, Det Insp Phil Kite said: "It has taken more than two years of protracted investigations to secure his conviction for the people of Pembroke and west Wales.

"We hope today's sentence will reassure the public that Dyfed-Powys Police will do all we can to bring those intent on causing fear to their community to justice."