Mark Kishon Christopher, described as an influential and manipulative figure, has received a seven-year prison sentence for orchestrating a pseudo-legal plot to kidnap the Senior Coroner for Essex.
At Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge James Goss depicted Christopher as an ‘intelligent, persuasive, manipulative and dishonest’ leader. He headed a group entitled the Federal Postal Court Judges, identifying himself as the ‘Chief Judge of England and all Dominions’.
Christopher, along with three others—Matthew Dean Martin, Sean Harper, and Shiza Harper—devised this conspiracy based on pseudo-legal concepts. The group was found guilty in July of conspiracy to commit kidnap and false imprisonment. Christopher faced an additional charge for sending distressing communications.
This particular group, reminiscent of Sovereign Citizen movements, dismisses conventional legal systems, claiming to operate as a ‘court of the people’. They use language and structures that mimic genuine law to bewilder recipients and enforce their supposed powers.
In April last year, Christopher and his associates infiltrated Seax House, demanding the whereabouts of Senior Coroner Lincoln Brookes, claiming the court was dissolved. During this intrusion, they donned high-visibility vests and carried body cameras and handcuffs, intending to assert their authority unlawfully.
The targeted coroner, Mr Brookes, was absent, yet the group confined individuals present and issued threats regarding their homes. Area coroner Michelle Brown expressed significant fear during the event, with concerns for her safety persisting long after.
Michelle Brown testified about her ongoing anxiety and sleep deprivation due to the incident. This calculated act by an organised group left a lasting impact on her sense of security both at home and in her professional life.
The judge highlighted the gravity of intending to abduct the Senior Coroner, forcibly if necessary, and to undermine legal authority as a critical aspect of the conspiracy.
Mark Christopher received concurrent sentences for his offences, while his accomplices were given 30 months for each conspiracy charge, also running concurrently. Restraining orders were also implemented, preventing contact with victims and limiting courthouse access without prior arrangement.
Essex Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Nathan Hutchinson dismissed the group’s ideologies as misguided and intimidating, disregarding the rule of law entirely.
This verdict serves as a significant reminder of the justice system’s role in safeguarding lawful authority and public safety against pseudo-legal threats.
