Katrina Rosales
In 2018, Charlie Rowley found a perfume bottle containing the nerve agent Novichok, which he gave to his partner Dawn Sturgess. The bottle was disguised in a luxury perfume bottle, wrapped in cellophane and boxed. Rowley found the bottle in a bin in his hometown of Amesbury, Wiltshire, near Salisbury, where former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned. The bottle was disguised carefully and deliberately, creating a risk that someone would find it and take it home. The discovery of the bottle in Rowley's flat was a milestone in the investigation into the attack on the Skripals and Sturgess.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | A bin in a charity shop car park in Salisbury |
| Date | 4 March 2018 |
| Packaging | Sealed box, cellophane wrapper, strong thick plastic |
| Contents | A glass bottle, a silver screw cap, a white nozzle, and an orange cap |
| Smell | Oily, unremarkable |
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What You'll Learn
- Charlie Rowley found the bottle in a bin in a charity shop car park in Salisbury
- The perfume bottle was disguised in a sealed box with cellophane wrapping
- The bottle was made of glass with a silver screw cap and a white nozzle
- Rowley and his partner struggled to open the bottle, requiring a 12-inch knife
- The Novichok inside the bottle was enough to kill thousands of people
Charlie Rowley found the bottle in a bin in a charity shop car park in Salisbury
Charlie Rowley found a perfume bottle containing the nerve agent Novichok in a bin in a charity shop car park in Salisbury. Rowley had a habit of searching for "treasure" in bins, and his discovery was made shortly after Russian suspects were in the area. The bottle was disguised as a luxury perfume and was contained in packaging suggesting it was Nina Ricci Premier Jour perfume.
Rowley gave the bottle to his partner, Dawn Sturgess, who sprayed it on her wrist. She fell ill within 10 to 15 minutes and died as a result of the poisoning. The couple struggled to get the perfume out of its packaging, and in the process of connecting the pump to the bottle, Rowley spilled some of its contents onto his hands. He also "sniffed" the substance, describing it as "oily" and not smelling like perfume.
The discovery of the bottle in Rowley's flat was described by counter-terrorism police as "a milestone" in the investigation into the attack on the Skripals and Sturgess and Rowley. The inquiry saw images of the unusual perfume container, which had a glass bottle, a silver screw cap, and a white nozzle, similar to a throat spray.
Rowley's revelations about the perfume bottle being boxed and sealed raised concerns and prompted a public meeting in Salisbury to discuss the poisonings. The investigation focused on how, when, and where Rowley and Sturgess came into possession of the bottle, with searches continuing at various locations to identify other potential sites or sources of contamination.
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The perfume bottle was disguised in a sealed box with cellophane wrapping
Charlie Rowley found a perfume bottle containing the nerve agent Novichok, which he gave to his partner, Dawn Sturgess, leading to her death. Rowley found the bottle in his hometown of Amesbury, Wiltshire, in June 2018. It was disguised in a sealed box with cellophane wrapping, which made him believe it was a legitimate, unused perfume.
Rowley had a habit of searching for "treasure" in bins and charity shops, and he believes he found the bottle in a bin in late June 2018. However, his memory is hazy, and he cannot be certain of the exact location where he found it. He recalled that the box was sealed and wrapped in cellophane, and the bottle inside appeared to be new and unused. This led him to believe it was safe and a potential gift for his partner.
The perfume bottle was later identified as containing Novichok, the same substance used in the attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in March 2018. The bottle was unusual, with a glass container, a silver screw cap, and a white nozzle similar to a throat spray. It was not what would typically be expected of a perfume bottle.
The discovery of the bottle in Rowley's flat was a significant milestone in the investigation into the attacks on the Skripals and Sturgess. It raised concerns about the possibility of more Novichok being present in Wiltshire and the reckless disregard for human life shown by those who discarded the bottle. The investigation focused on understanding how, when, and where Rowley and Sturgess came into possession of the bottle, leading to searches at various locations to identify potential contamination sites.
The tragic incident highlights the dangerous consequences of leaving toxic substances accessible to the public and the importance of proper disposal to prevent accidental poisoning.
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The bottle was made of glass with a silver screw cap and a white nozzle
The bottle that Charlie Rowley found was made of glass with a silver screw cap and a white nozzle. It was disguised as a luxury perfume bottle, containing a fatal nerve agent, later identified as Novichok. The nozzle was similar to what one would find in a throat spray, and the cap was not the type usually found on a perfume bottle. The bottle was contained in a sealed box with cellophane wrapping, giving the impression that it was a new, unused perfume bottle.
Rowley discovered the bottle in his hometown of Amesbury, Wiltshire, in June 2018. He found it lying by a bin, and it had been placed there by the assassins who had attempted to murder former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury a few months prior. Rowley's hobby was searching for "treasure" in bins, and he had a habit of looking for new, sealed products. He believed he found the bottle in late June, shortly before his partner, Dawn Sturgess, was poisoned.
Rowley gave the bottle to Sturgess as a gift, and she sprayed it on her wrist. She began feeling unwell within 10 to 15 minutes, experiencing convulsions and drooling at the mouth. The couple initially struggled to open the bottle and had to cut through strong, thick plastic packaging with a 12-inch knife. When they finally opened it, they noticed that the substance inside was oily and did not smell like perfume.
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Rowley and his partner struggled to open the bottle, requiring a 12-inch knife
Charlie Rowley found a perfume bottle containing the nerve agent Novichok, which he accidentally gave to his partner, Dawn Sturgess, leading to her death. Rowley discovered the bottle in his hometown of Amesbury, Wiltshire, in June 2018. It was disguised in a luxury perfume bottle, found lying by a bin.
Rowley and Sturgess struggled to open the bottle, which was wrapped in strong, thick plastic packaging. They used a 12-inch knife to cut through the plastic. In the process, Rowley spilled some of the oily substance onto his hands. Despite the unusual packaging, Rowley believed the perfume was legitimate and safe to use, as it looked unused.
Rowley described the challenging process of opening the bottle: "Once the plastic was open, Dawn tried to assemble it and failed, so I tried and managed to pour it over my hands. I used quite a bit of force, but it spilt... Once the top was fastened, Dawn sprayed it once on herself, she sprayed it on her wrist."
The unusual perfume container was a key piece of evidence, comprising a glass bottle, a silver screw cap, and a white nozzle similar to a throat spray. The investigation into Sturgess's death and the attack on the Skripals relied heavily on understanding how the nerve agent was administered, and the discovery of the bottle in Rowley's flat provided crucial clarity.
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The Novichok inside the bottle was enough to kill thousands of people
Charlie Rowley found a perfume bottle containing Novichok, a deadly nerve agent, in his hometown of Amesbury, Wiltshire, in June 2018. The bottle was disguised as a luxury perfume, Nina Ricci Premier Jour, and was wrapped in cellophane and boxed.
Rowley, who had a habit of searching for "treasure" in bins, believes he found the bottle in a bin in a charity shop car park in Salisbury city centre. He stated that he found it shortly before his partner, Dawn Sturgess, was poisoned, and that it was still sealed, leading him to believe it was legitimate and safe. However, his memory of the incident is hazy, and he has been unable to pinpoint the exact location where he discovered the bottle.
The consequences of leaving such a lethal substance in a public place were severe. Dawn Sturgess, who was entirely unaware of the danger, sprayed the substance on her wrist, believing it to be perfume. Within 10 to 15 minutes, she began to feel unwell and was later found by Rowley, convulsing and drooling. Sturgess's tragic death highlights the reckless disregard for human life by those who discarded the bottle, endangering countless individuals.
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Frequently asked questions
Charlie Rowley found the perfume bottle containing the nerve agent Novichok in a bin in his hometown of Amesbury, Wiltshire.
The bottle comprised a glass bottle, a silver screw cap, and a white nozzle, similar to a throat spray. The cap was not the type usually found on a perfume bottle.
Yes, the bottle was found in a sealed box with cellophane wrapping.
Charlie Rowley found the perfume bottle on 4 March 2018, shortly after the assassination attempt on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal.
Charlie Rowley gave the perfume bottle to his partner, Dawn Sturgess, who died after spraying the Novichok-laced perfume on herself.
