July 29, 2019 2.35 pm This story is over 56 months old

Three people in court two years after mustard gas probe

One was also charged with possession of a Bren Machine Gun

Three people have been summoned to court nearly two years after a mustard gas alert forced police to cordon off a woodland and lake in Woodhall Spa.

As previously reported, around 150 World War Two canisters were discovered in Roughton Woods in October 2017.

Bottle diggers needed hospital treatment after they found and disturbed the mustard gas.

The Crown Prosecution Service and the Environment Agency have jointly brought prosecutions against two men and a woman.

All three are expected to be in Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 15.

The scene above the lake at Stixwould. Photo: Lincolnshire Police

Martyn Tasker, 39-years-old and of Longdales Road in Lincoln, has been charged with possession of a Bren Machine Gun which was designed or adapted to fire two or more missiles without repeated trigger pressure.

He was also charged with possession of mustard gas and with discharging of poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into Stixwould Lake.

One of the mustard gas canisters recovered. Photo: Royal Navy

Michaela Tasker, 31-years-old and also of Longdales Road in Lincoln, was charged with possession of mustard gas and discharging of poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into Stixwould Lake.

Stuart Holmes, 50-years-old and of Witham Road in Woodhall Spa was charged with possession of mustard gas and discharging of poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into Stixwould Lake.

Holmes was also charged with disposing of mustard gas in or around Roughton Woods without an environmental permit.