An individual has been jailed for orchestrating a plot to kidnap the Senior Coroner of Essex.
- Mark Kishon Christopher led a group using pseudo-legal beliefs to justify their actions.
- The group, mimicking legitimate legal structures, aimed to abduct Coroner Lincoln Brookes in April last year.
- Christopher and his accomplices were found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap and false imprisonment.
- Severe psychological impacts from the attempted kidnapping were reported by victims.
Mark Kishon Christopher, the orchestrator behind a bizarre and dangerous plot to kidnap the Senior Coroner for Essex, has been sentenced to seven years in prison. Alongside him, three accomplices will each serve two and a half years. Mr Justice James Goss outlined the manipulative nature of Christopher’s actions, highlighting his use of pseudo-legal structures to prey on vulnerable individuals.
Essex Police identified the group as operating under the guise of the ‘Federal Postal Court Judges’. This group, echoing the methods of the Sovereign Citizen movement, invented their own legal system. Appointing himself as ‘Chief Judge of England and all Dominions’, Christopher convinced others that they held authoritative power, targeting those in financial distress.
The attempted abduction, which took place at Seax House in Chelmsford, saw the conspirators donning high-visibility jackets and using body cameras. They demanded an audience with Senior Coroner Lincoln Brookes, claiming their ‘court’ had the authority to shut down existing legal operations. The alarm was quickly raised, yet building occupants faced threats from the group, who professed knowledge of their personal addresses.
Victims of the incident, including area coroner Michelle Brown, experienced significant trauma. Ms Brown reported enduring anxiety, disrupted sleep, and a persistent fear for her safety. Her statement emphasised the hostile environment created by the group’s actions, leaving lasting effects on her professional and personal life.
In the wake of these events, Senior Coroner Lincoln Brookes disclosed suffering from anxiety attacks and nightmares, knowing his family’s safety was at risk. The court noted the serious implications of the group’s intent to undermine official authority, reflecting a severe breach of legal and societal norms.
Christopher’s manipulative influence extended prior to the incident, involving a campaign of sending threatening communications to Mr Brookes. These threatening messages, which lasted over a year, were part of a calculated effort to instil fear and disrupt the lawful functioning of Essex’s coronial services.
The court has imposed not only custodial sentences but also restraining orders to prevent further harassment of victims and to curb the group’s disruptive activities. Detective Chief Inspector Nathan Hutchinson remarked on the irrational and oppressive nature of the group’s beliefs, underlining the importance of upholding the rule of law against such ideologically driven threats.
The verdict and ensuing sentences highlight the judiciary’s commitment to maintaining lawful order against pseudo-legal threats.
