Chilling moment ex-Russian spy hands bread to a child after being poisoned by Novichok: Never-before-seen CCTV shows Skripals strolling around Salisbury – unaware they’d been exposed to deadly nerve agent

Never-before-seen CCTV footage of the Salisbury Novichok attacks has captured the moment a former Russian spy handed bread to a child after being poisoned with the deadly nerve agent.

The grainy photos show former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia happily strolling through the city – completely unaware that they had just become the target of one of the deadliest chemical weapons known to man.

Skripal is believed to have come into contact with Novichok after it was smeared on the doorknob of his home in a quiet cul-de-sac in the Wiltshire town on March 4, 2018, reportedly on orders from Vladimir Putin.

The new CCTV footage shows the pair visiting a pub and a Zizzi’s restaurant before they are later seen slumped on a park bench after succumbing to the poison, leaving mum-of-three Dawn Sturgess tragically manner died.

An inquest into the 44-year-old’s death yesterday found she was accidentally caught “in the crossfire of an illegal, outrageous international assassination attempt” that could have killed thousands more people.

Mrs Sturgess was seen on CCTV in Salisbury the day before she died and on another occasion in June.

Chillingly, CCTV suggested the pair may have come across the Skripals near their home as they drove into the city center for something to eat.

After wiping Novichok on Skripal’s doorknob, the suspects allegedly dumped the deadly substance in a fake bottle of Nina Ricci perfume in Salisbury.

More than three months later it was discovered by Mrs Sturgess’ friend Charlie Rowley, who gave it to her as a gift.

But she became desperately ill after spraying the substance on her body and died in hospital while Mr Rowley was seriously injured.

A public inquiry into Ms Sturgess’ death found she was the only one of possibly thousands who could have died in the failed assassination attempt.

Her family want the hearing to examine whether British authorities have done enough to protect the public by averting the threat of attack on Mr Skripal, 73, and his daughter Yulia, 39.

Andrew O’Connor, lead lawyer for the inquiry at Salisbury Guildhall, said: ‘The evidence suggests that this bottle, which we will hear contained enough poison to kill thousands, must have been left somewhere in a public place, posing a clear risk arises that someone might find it.

“Is it possible that mistakes were made in protecting Sergei Skripal that indirectly contributed to the death of Dawn Sturgess?”

Adam Straw KC, for the Sturgess family, said leaving what appeared to be a perfume bottle containing enough Novichok to kill thousands was ‘a game of Russian roulette that put the public in grave danger’.

He added: “Dawn’s death is a tragedy for her family, her partner and her friends.

‘They lived a quiet life in Salisbury and were dismayed by the collateral damage of global spy wars. It felt like James Bond meeting the Archers. But the consequences could have been even more disastrous. It was capable of causing a massacre.”

In September 2018, Scotland Yard accused two GRU (Russian Military Intelligence) spies, traveling under the names Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, of the attempted murder of the Skripals.

The Skripals survived and now live in a secret location, so they will not be called to testify to protect them.

In a witness statement, Skripal said he was convinced the assassination attempt was ordered by the Russian president.

The ex-GRU agent was jailed in Russia in 2004 for espionage before being released in 2010 and moved to Britain in a prisoner swap. The investigation found there was evidence he helped British intelligence shortly before he was attacked, raising concerns about whether enough was done to protect him.

Mr Skripal said: ‘I never thought the Russian regime would try to kill me in Britain.

‘They could have easily killed me when I was in prison.

‘I believe that Putin makes all the important decisions himself. I therefore think that he must have at least given permission for the attack.’

A third Russian, Sergey Fedotov, also a suspected GRU spy, was charged in connection with the poisoning three years later.

An international arrest warrant was issued for the trio, but Russia does not allow the extradition of its citizens, so it is unlikely they will ever face trial in Britain.

In an unorthodox move, Straw called on inquiry chairman Lord Hughes of Ombersley to call Putin as a witness, but admitted it would be impossible to get him to attend. Lord Hughes’ final report is expected next year.