Conspiracy theorist who left fake ‘Novichok’ at tourist attraction avoids jail
A former teacher placed bottles labelled with the nerve agent at a Welsh castle a few months after the Salisbury poisonings
Last updated 3rd Feb 2021
'Conspiracy theorist' John Ap Evans, put bottles of a hoax noxious substance, made of tomato sauce and brown sauce mixed with water at Pembroke Castle on five separate occasions in July 2018.
Two of the bottles were labelled Novichok, the lethal nerve agent used to try to assassinate Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in March 2018.
Ap Evans was arrested after a secret camera installed at the tourist attraction filmed a suspect, and by chance a police officer later recognised him walking near his home.
Swansea Crown Court heard after the first bottle was discovered by a member of the public the castle was evacuated and closed.
Experts from Porton Down, who were working on the Salisbury poisonings at the time, were sent to Pembrokeshire to investigate.
Samples of the liquid were tested and scientists could not find traces of any known poisons.
In a victim personal statement, castle caretaker Jason Kenny said the incidents had caused "so much worry''.
"Just hearing the word Novichok makes you think of the Salisbury incident where people died.''
'FUN'
Following his arrest, Ap Evans admitted his guilt and said he had done it as a "bit of fun."
Simon Davis, prosecuting said: "He believed the Novichok thing in Salisbury was a lot of lies and he didn't know why he had done it."
Later, Ap Evans retracted his original admissions and attempted to claim he was creating an art installation for the Turner Prize.
"He had written on the bottles as a joke to see if this 'ridiculous art' as he described it, would win the Turner Prize."
PLEADED GUILTY
At an earlier hearing Ap Evans, from Northgate Street, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to five counts of a hoax involving a noxious substance under section 114 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.
Ap Evans, who represented himself, maintained in mitigation he was trying to create an artwork.
"There was nothing malicious in whatever I had done,'' he said.
'PATHETIC'
The judge imposed a 21 month jail sentence,suspended for two years, and ordered Ap Evans to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and attend rehabilitation activity days.
He was also ordered to pay £2,400 compensation to the castle.
Passing sentence, Judge Paul Thomas QC said Ap Evans had caused a great deal of disruption to the emergency services and a financial loss to the castle.
"It was, despite your protestations, an entirely malicious series of hoaxes - deliberate, repeated and pre-planned.''
"You are what is known commonly as a conspiracy theorist, from what I suspect, a folie a deux."
"I regret to say that in many ways you are a sad and pathetic individual who wanted to bring some excitement into their life via embarking on this stupid escapade.''
Speaking after the sentencing on Monday (1st February) Detective Inspector Phil Kite from Dyfed-Powys Police said:
"Dyfed-Powys Police welcomes today’s sentencing of John ap Evans. At a time of heightened concern across the country, following the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury, Evans deliberately and maliciously planted objects to play on people’s fears in an act of terror."