Charles Stopford

Charles Stopford

Charles Albert Stopford (born c. 1962) is an impostor who, in 1982, assumed a false identity using a technique described in the book The Day of the Jackal, involving the birth certificate of a deceased baby (Christopher Edward Buckingham) who would have been approximately the same age as him. Several years later, he began to use the title Lord Buckingham.

He lived in the United Kingdom for 16 years until a passport inconsistency brought him to the attention of the British police in 2005 when he attempted to board a cross-Channel ferry in Calais, France. He was working as an information technology security consultant in Switzerland at the time. He refused to give his real name and was as a result sentenced to 21 months in prison on November 8, 2005 but this was reduced in January, 2006 to 9 months after the UK Court of Appeal found that the original sentencing judge, Ms. Adele Williams, had acted ultra vires.

Attempts to determine his identity continued with the secret services attempting to investigate whether or not he was an ex-East German spy. His father pointed out to police that he was a former U.S. Navy sailor from Florida, who had disappeared in 1983. He said he was 100% sure from photographs that he was his son, with his son's identity confirmed as Charles Albert Stopford after fingerprint comparisons were taken. His ex-wife and children have expressed hurt at the deception.

After his jail time was finished he was deported to the US, evading the waiting press to secretly meet the entire Stopford family on his arrival in a nearby hotel. He is assumed to have changed his name to Christopher Buckingham.[citation needed] Before he was caught he married and had two children; he has had constant contact and regular visits with them since his prison term.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Charles Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Marquess of Ailesbury — (William Beechey) Charles Brudenell Bruce, 1st Marquess of Ailesbury, KT (14 February 1773 – 4 January 1856), styled The Honourable Charles Brudenell Bruce from birth until 1776, Lord Bruce from 1776 to 1814 and The Earl of …   Wikipedia

  • Charles Summersby — Charles Harold Summersby (1882 – 13 August 1961) was a British draper and Liberal National politician. Contents 1 Family and education 2 Career 3 Politics 3.1 Local politics …   Wikipedia

  • Charles Blomfield — Bishop of London Church Church of England Diocese Diocese of London …   Wikipedia

  • Charles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch — Charles William Henry Montagu Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch 6th Duke of Queensberry, KT (24 May 1772 – 20 April 1819) was the son of Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch and Lady Elizabeth Montagu. His maternal grandparents were George Montagu, 1st… …   Wikipedia

  • Charles Napier (Royal Navy officer) — For the similarly named General, his first cousin and contemporary in the Peninsular Campaign, see Charles James Napier. Sir Charles Napier Admiral Sir Charles Napier (print, c. 1855) …   Wikipedia

  • Charles John Napier — Admiral Sir Charles (John) Napier KCB RN (6 March 1786 [Priscilla Napier (1995), who is not elsewhere free from error, gives the year as 1787 (p. 1, and book title), but provides no evidence. All other authorities agree on 1786.] – 6 November… …   Wikipedia

  • Charles Bennet, 5th Earl of Tankerville — The Right Honourable The Earl of Tankerville PC, DL Treasurer of the Household In office 1806–1807 Monarch George III Pri …   Wikipedia

  • Charles Dickenson — Anglicanism portal The Right Reverend Charles Dickenson DD, PC (August 1792 – 12 July 1842), was an Anglican bishop in the Church of Ireland [1] in the 19th century …   Wikipedia

  • Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer — For other people named Charles Spencer, see Charles Spencer (disambiguation). The Right Honourable The Earl Spencer KG, GCVO, PC, VRD …   Wikipedia

  • Charles Warburton — Christianity portal Anglicanism portal …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”