Swindon man jailed after failed plot to kill his ex fiancé using a 'murder kit'

A Swindon man has today been jailed after pleading guilty to making threats to kill and encouraging another to aid and abet murder by providing a gun and ammunition.

Matthias Brandt, 43, of Horsham Road, Park South, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court today (11/12).



He will serve seven years and eight months in prison and four years and four months on licence.



On March 22, Brandt met a plain clothes police officer in the Outlet Village. Brandt informed him that he wanted to kill his ex-partner, who he had met in the summer of 2018 in Prague. He had proposed to the woman at the end of 2018 and had given her an engagement ring. However, the relationship had come to an end prior to Christmas 2018. Brandt was later contacted in February 2019 by a friend of the woman who told Brandt his former fiancé had been arrested in America and needed $500 in bail. Brandt paid the money but then became suspicious that he had in fact been scammed by the woman.



To get his revenge, Brandt told the officer that he wanted him to source him a ‘murder kit’ comprising of a revolver style firearm, a silencer, three rounds of ammunition, rope, a large knife and a stun gun. He said he wanted to dismember her body after killing her.



Brandt paid the officer £300 and agreed to pay further money on return of the murder kit once the killing had taken place.



Detective Superintendent Ben Mant, head of public protection at Wiltshire Police, said: “Brandt had a clear intention of taking revenge on his former partner and was prepared to take drastic steps to ensure this happened. After the relationship ended he became obsessed with tracking her down and continued to try and contact her but his calls and messages were blocked or left unanswered.



“Brandt tasked multiple private investigators from the UK and America to try and locate his former partner, spending a large amount of money in the process. He was intense and obsessive – making over 200 calls and sending 1,700 whatsApp messages to the private investigators.



“On March 19, Brandt paid a private investigator to assist him with a ‘honey trap’ – Brandt travelled to Prague but the ‘honey trap’ failed and plans were made to carry out another attempt the following weekend.



“Brandt was arrested on March 22 in Swindon – he became aggressive and abusive towards the officer which further evidenced his potential to be violent towards anyone he saw as ‘crossing him’.



“This has been an extremely complex investigation and we would like to thank the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit for their support. It has been one of the most complex cases our Specialist Crime Department has dealt with.



“The sentence handed to Brandt today reflects the extremely serious nature of the offences committed and is testament to the extensive work carried out by all officers and staff involved in disrupting Brandt’s plans and putting him before the courts.”