A GANG of 'cult' members have been jailed over conspiracy to kidnap and falsely imprison a senior coroner in Essex.

Sean Harper, 38 and his wife, Shiza Harper, 45, both of Benfleet, have been sentenced today alongside "self-appointed" leader Mark Christopher, 59, of Forest Gate, and Matthew Martin, 47, of Plaistow.

The defendants had turned up at the court on April 20 last year, entered a room where another coroner was conducting documentary inquests, demanded to know where Essex senior coroner Lincoln Brookes was.

The judge, Mr Justice James Goss, said all four were members of a group called the Federal Postal Court, or the Court for the People, which had "self-conferred" powers.

 

Sean Harper, 38, was a "sheriff" and his wife Shiza Harper, 45, was a postal inspector for the group, the judge said, who were both "qualified by" Christopher.

Today, Christopher was jailed for seven years as the judge said he was "at the very heart of these offences".

Martin, Harper, and Harper, were all jailed for two years and six months each as the judge stated the three "were prepared to commit offences while doing his bidding".

Essex area coroner Michelle Brown – who had been conducting inquests from paperwork and without witnesses or family present – told an earlier trial that the group came into her courtroom.

She said that the leader, Christopher, "kept demanding that I find and get Mr Brookes".

Mr Brookes told the earlier trial that he received a series of "very bizarre" letters in 2022 before receiving emails in April 2023 stating that "corporal punishment may be administered".

He described the emails, which claimed to be warrants "for seizure of goods and persons", as "troubling" and "upsetting".

Mr Brookes said that in an attachment to an email he was accused of "detrimental necromancy".

In a victim impact statement read out in court by prosecutor Allister Walker today, he said: "I regularly have nightmares about the incident and the suspects attending my home."

Mr Brookes said he has had "initial trauma therapy" and is now "hyper vigilant about the safety of my family and myself".

He said he had been driving to the court, having accompanied a family member to a hospital appointment that morning, when he received a call about what had happened, and he turned around.

Mr Brookes said he was warned not to come to the building and was told "these are the people from the letter – they are coming to get you".

All four previously denied conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to commit false imprisonment but were all found guilty on both counts following a two-week trial.

Christopher was also found guilty of sending threatening letters to Mr Brookes with intent to cause distress or anxiety.

The judge jailed all four, ordered each to pay a £228 surcharge and subjected each to a restraining order, barring them from entering any courthouse in England and Wales without a prior appointment and blocking them from contacting Mr Brookes or Ms Brown.

Det Chief Insp Nathan Hutchinson, of Essex Police, said afterwards: “Whilst we appreciate freedom of opinion, this group’s ideologies are nothing more than nonsensical intimidation and oppression with no regard for the law.

“Christopher told the group that they could take control of an active court, make arrests, and threaten public servants who were just trying to do their job supporting the people of Essex.”