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Three Plead Guilty To Illegal Possession Of Mustard Gas Canisters

Navy divers help police deal with decades-old chemical weapons in Lincolnshire4

The Lincolnshire Police found about 150 canisters of mustard gas in 2017 (Picture: Lincolnshire Police).

Three people have admitted possessing the chemical weapon mustard gas at a former RAF base used in the Second World War.

Martyn Tasker, 39, Michaela Tasker, 31, and Stuart Holmes, 50, were arrested after containers filled with the highly noxious substance were discovered in Lincolnshire woodland in October 2017.

The trio all admitted possession of mustard gas canisters and discharging mustard gas into fresh inland waters during a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday.

Holmes also pleaded guilty to depositing mustard gas in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health.

Police declared a "major incident" after the canisters were first discovered on the former RAF Woodhall Spa site at Roughton Woods.

Bomb disposal officers had to be called in and further testing was carried out on the substance at the Government's specialist Porton Down military research laboratory in Wiltshire.

Navy divers help police deal with decades-old chemical weapons in Lincolnshire — The highly dangerous gas, a chemical warfare agent, causes severe irritation and blistering to the skin, eyes, and lungs of those exposed, and was used during the First World War (Picture: Royal Navy).

Two people who found the canisters needed hospital treatment for burns and respiratory problems, but were released after treatment.

Michaela Tasker, who was tearful throughout the hearing, alongside Martyn Tasker and Holmes, spoke to confirm their name, date of birth and their pleas.

The Taskers, both of Longdales Road, Lincoln, and Holmes, of Witham Road, Woodhall Spa, were granted unconditional bail and will be sentenced on a date to be fixed.