Robin Wilton's esoterica

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09 Nov · Wed 2005

Who is 'Christopher Buckingham'?

A fascinating identity story surfaced in the media yesterday. A traveller returning to the UK through the port of Dover was stopped because a border check revealed that his passport had been revoked back in 2003: the details in the passport were an exact match for an entry in the Register of Deaths. It appears that he had stolen the identity of a child who died in 1963 aged 8 months. If that sounds oddly familiar, it may be because that‘s the same technique used by “Charles Calthrop“/“Chacal“, in Frederick Forsyth‘s thriller “The Day of the Jackal”. Forsyth published that book in 1971. ‘Buckingham‘ apparently assumed his false identity in 1983. Under the name of Christopher Buckingham, he got married, had children, worked in ‘normal‘ jobs (lately as an IT security consultant), and generally did nothing which would lead to any level of police interest. So when he was arrested because of the revoked passport, the only offence he could be charged with was that of obtaining that false passport in the first place. To the evident frustration of the police, he declines to offer any information about his real identity. They are therefore convinced that he must have something to hide, but currently can‘t prove anything. In the absence of any other offences, he has been sent down for 21 months on the passport charge. As far as I am aware, it is not illegal to use a false name in the UK; it only becomes an offence if you do so with the intention of deceiving (for instance, to evade prosection or perpetrate fraud). Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is simple: if you suspect that someone has done what ‘Christopher Buckingham‘ has done… how would you go about finding the identity which he abandoned 22 years ago? Answers via the Comment button, please...

Posted by racingsnake @ 10:38 AM GMT+00:00 [ Comments [17] ]

Comments:

Talking specifically about this guy, I would start with:

What age was he 22 years ago? What serious crimes are unsolved within the previous 12 months (particularly within the vicinity of the registry office he must have used)? What missing persons were reported then? Use DNA info for info on his heritage.

Consider motivations for changing identity: escaping debt, criminal record, people (family)?

Posted by AMcD on November 09, 2005 at 11:32 AM GMT+00:00 #

I think our solution is to let him sweat it out in jail, and then step out into modern Britain: he won't be able to get a new passport; will be denied employment, social security or housing; will be unable to bank or engage in any meaningful economic activity; cannot hire an accountant or lawyer; cannot drive or obtain healthcare. Then we'll see how important his hidden identity really is :)

Posted by Toby Stevens on November 09, 2005 at 01:11 PM GMT+00:00 #

Obviously taking a dead child's identity counts as identity theft. But what about hiding your original identity - does this count as identity theft as well? After all, he is taking something away from people who might have a legimate interest.

Posted by Richard Veryard on November 09, 2005 at 06:49 PM GMT+00:00 #

If the people closest to him mean enough to him then surely that is enough for a confession of who he really is. His children have been left not knowing who their father is (myself being one of them) yes sweat it out in jail, but at the end of the day a 2 year sentence is nothing compared to what he could get if he commited a huge crime before. he knows whats he's doing and i'm pretty sure dad could do it again, he's not a stupid man.

Posted by lyndsey Buckingham on November 14, 2005 at 12:54 PM GMT+00:00 #

Hi All, I think we should not think about the worst. I worked over one Year together with Chris, and I never hat to blame about anything. He was not a consultant; he was employed in a Re-Insurance in Zurich. He was calm but friendly. I guess we do have much bigger problems in this world. And also there is a possibility that he wanted to hide his real family history where he was born in. Think about being a child of George W. Bush. I would have changed my identity in for sure, no matter how!!! Cheers Felix

Posted by Widmer on November 15, 2005 at 11:56 AM GMT+00:00 #

Hi; just a quick post to thank the last two commenters. Felix, your comment ties in with what seemed to be causing the police so much frustration: that they could not 'pin anything' on their suspect beyond the passport application business.
And Lyndsey, what can I say? I really appreciate your taking the time to comment. I truly hope this situation gets resolved in a way which answers the many questions which I guess you must be wondering about now. If you are inclined to comment further, either here or by email, do feel free. I would be interested to know more about what kind of 'fallout' you have experienced in terms of having your own passport annulled.
The closer we get to biometric ID cards, the more likelihood I can see in future of people not just having their travel documents invalidated, but basically having their whole ID 'revoked'. So far we have all tended to think of that as a 'one person' issue by definition, but as your case shows, it clearly is not. Thanks again.

Posted by Robin Wilton on November 28, 2005 at 04:25 PM GMT+00:00 #

I worked with Chris for a number of years, my then girlfriend rented a house to him nr Sevenoaks. We also socialised together in Northampton and on at least two occasions I met Jody. To be honest he came across as a polite, caring guy and he was very good company. I find it hard to believe that he has done anything that serious. His story about his parents dying in a plane crash was one he told me also so looks like he pulled the wool over my eyes too. I gradually lost contact with him when I left the company. I would be very interested to know where he is currently imprisioned with a view to visiting him should he agree to it.

Posted by Scoobydoo on December 05, 2005 at 02:10 PM GMT+00:00 #

Hi Scoobydoo, and many thanks for your post. It's hard to follow this story for any period without noting that hardly anyone has a bad thing to say about "CB". I find that somehow heartening.
I'm afraid I don't know how you would go about locating him now, short of taking it up with the arresting Police Authority. Good luck.

Posted by Robin Wilton on December 05, 2005 at 04:22 PM GMT+00:00 #

Hello Toby, you are very wrong on some of your points about what he might be able to do. A new passport I agree with but he will be able to get a job, a NI number, can get a bank account, can hire an accounttant and a Solicitor. As a solicitor I speak from experience and have recently obtained NI number and bank accounts for a client of mine with almost zero identity documents. The only things required are utility bills and you don't need qny ID for them either. I sympathise with the family on both sides.

Posted by Natham Williams on April 09, 2006 at 03:09 PM GMT+00:00 #

Hello all, I am new to this blogsite...I would be interested in hearing from those who have worked with 'Christopher' over the last 24 years and especially his daughter and ex-wife. I found the articles on 'Chris' this morning and have since researched these fraudulent charges against him and the fact that he refuses to give his identity. I want all of you to know that I KNOW THIS MAN PERSONALLY. I have not seen him in 23 years, since 1983. I want you to know who he is, but I would rather work through his family that has been ;eft in the dark for so long and the authorities if need be. Thank you for reading this. My prayer is that you accept this as truth in love for this man and his family - weven though I have never met them.

Posted by Rebecca on May 03, 2006 at 03:42 AM GMT+00:00 #

Ive just seen the documentary about Christopher Buckinham and I must tell you this man is just like anybody.I was once a Jackal myself.Infact I am still a Jackal.Do you know how many Jackals live normal lives in the world?

Posted by eric manin on May 07, 2006 at 11:10 PM GMT+00:00 #

I think one person being forgotten is the real Christopher Buckingham who died in August 1963. Christopher may have lived if his mother didn't leave the helpless eight month old in the care of total strangers while she went off with her older children for 'fish & chips"! In my mind she is more of a villian than the bogus Christopher Buckingham. He is simply a crackpot, while she betrayed a sacred trust. She speaks of suing Christopher Buckingham? She should sue herself!!

Posted by baboonhead on May 08, 2006 at 01:42 AM GMT+00:00 #

I find this story evokes a myriad of emotions. One can easily place themselves in several different shoes and shoot their emotions from one extreme to the other. Intriguing...

Posted by Raven DeLange on May 12, 2006 at 06:38 PM GMT+00:00 #

Emphasis should be on why this man had to take up a false name.Do you know how difficult it is when you are an immigrant?

Posted by ericoye manin on May 13, 2006 at 01:40 AM GMT+00:00 #

Hi all. I watched a programme today about christopher buckingham. What input i have on this is that someone stole my identity by obtaining my birth certificate and applying for a new passport. I am very much alive, but the passport issuing authority, in March 2000 without doing adequate checks issued 'me' with my new passport and accepted 'my' story that i had lost my old one! The only reason i found this out was that many months later i applied for a new passport and was refused on the grounds that i had already been issued with one. When i attended the passport office in London to identify myself, these bureaucrats first of all thought that I was the fake 'me', and then refused to accept that they had made a blundering mistake. They didn't even want me to know the passport number that they had issued to the fake 'me'. But i knew the number because when they refused to make my new passport, they had inadvertently told me 'my' new passport number which had been issued in March 2000. The end result is this: the fraud section in london passport office believe that the fake 'me' will one day enter and leave this country, and should his passport be checked, then they will apprehend him! They took further details off me regarding my schooling etc which hopefully the fake 'me' does not know about. 6 years on, still haven't heard anything. Although they said they contact me, should they apprehend the cheeky bugger.

Posted by tok on July 02, 2006 at 11:21 PM GMT+00:00 #

everyone has done something that has been a bit shady in the past, Who knows why he did this, But i can say we shold not judge him, or spread lies about what may or may not of happen, I know the family and it is not in there blood to be "evil". I wish everyone would leave them alone and let them deal with this them selves, We all have our own reasons for doing what we do, And he has his.

Posted by katie on July 24, 2006 at 12:22 PM GMT+00:00 #

to everybody who can contact the son and daughter of christopher edward buckingham i really don't know if lord chris. buckingham is lying as an egyptian i found some clues about the existence of a dead one named buckingham died in an accident ... i could not add more details as it classified please , please , please inform any of his relative i know with the last clue that he has a family in USA make that impossible ,but i am sure of what i have under my hand

Posted by ...... on August 01, 2006 at 06:14 PM GMT+00:00 #

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