In this article, we will explore the extraordinary and chilling story of Robert Freegard, a career conman who masqueraded as an MI5 agent and fooled several people into going into hiding, and the woman who fell for him, and then brought him down.
Who is Robert Freegard?
Robert Freegard was born in 1971 in Harlow, Essex. He grew up in a working-class family, and left school at 16 with no qualifications. He worked as a car salesman, a barman, and a security guard, before moving to Nottingham in 1992. There, he enrolled in a college course in business studies, and changed his name to Robert Hendy-Freegard. He also began his career as a conman, by pretending to be an undercover police officer and befriending his fellow students.
He told them that he was investigating a terrorist plot by the IRA, and that they were in danger. He convinced them to cut off contact with their families and friends, and to move around the country with him, living in cheap hotels and hostels. He also persuaded them to give him money, which he claimed was for expenses or bribes. He controlled every aspect of their lives, using threats, violence, and psychological manipulation. He kept them in a state of fear and isolation for years, while he lived a lavish lifestyle with their money.
Freegard's victims included John Atkinson, a law student who gave him Â300,000; Sarah Smith, a psychology student who gave him Â200,000; Elizabeth Richardson, a nurse who gave him Â40,000; Ian Carpenter, a computer programmer who gave him Â20,000; and Maria Hendy (no relation), a waitress who gave him Â5,000. He also had several girlfriends at the same time, whom he lied to about his identity and occupation.
How did he get caught?
Freegard's downfall began in 1998, when he met Alice Archer (not her real name), a single mother of two who worked as an accountant. He told her that he was an MI5 agent named Robert Freegard (his real name), and that he was on a secret mission to infiltrate a criminal network. He wooed her with flowers, gifts, and romantic gestures, and soon moved in with her. He also convinced her to give him access to her bank accounts and credit cards.
However, Alice soon became suspicious of his stories and behavior. She noticed that he had no ID or passport, that he never answered his phone in front of her, that he often disappeared for days or weeks without explanation, and that he was abusive and controlling. She also found out that he had other women in his life, whom he also lied to.
In 2001, Alice decided to confront him about his lies. She secretly hired a private investigator to track him down and expose him. She also contacted one of his former victims, John Atkinson, who had escaped from his clutches in 1996 and had reported him to the police. Together, they set up a trap for Freegard at a hotel in London.
On June 25th 2001 , Alice lured Freegard to the hotel by telling him that she had won a lottery prize. There she confronted him with John Atkinson and the private investigator. She recorded their conversation on tape , where Freegard admitted that he was not an MI5 agent , but a conman . She then handed over the tape to the police , who arrested Freegard on charges of kidnapping , false imprisonment , fraud , theft , blackmail , assault , and firearms offences .
What happened next?
Freegard's trial began in May 2003 at the Old Bailey in London. He pleaded not guilty to all charges , claiming that he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia , and that he believed that he was an MI5 agent . He also accused his victims of being liars , fantasists , and co-conspirators . He tried to discredit Alice by revealing intimate details of their relationship , and by accusing her of being a spy for the IRA .
However, the jury did not believe his claims , and found him guilty of 20 counts of kidnapping , false imprisonment , fraud , theft , blackmail , and assault . He was sentenced to life imprisonment , with a minimum term of 14 years . He was also ordered to pay Â1.8 million in compensation to his victims . He is currently serving his sentence at Belmarsh Prison in London.
How did his story become a movie?
Freegard's story attracted a lot of media attention , and inspired several books and documentaries . In 2022, a biographical mystery drama thriller film based on his crimes was released, titled Rogue Agent. The film was directed by Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn, from a screenplay they co-wrote with Michael Bronner, based on the unpublished article "Chasing Agent Freegard" by Michael Bronner. James Norton portrayed Robert Freegard, while Gemma Arterton played Alice Archer, the woman who brought him down. The film also starred Shazad Latif, Marisa Abela, Edwina Findley, and Julian Barratt. The film was released in the United Kingdom on Netflix, and in the United States by IFC Films and AMC+. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, who praised the performances of Norton and Arterton, but criticized the script and direction for being too slow and dull.
Conclusion
Rogue agents are people who use deception and manipulation to achieve their goals, often at the expense of others. Robert Freegard was one of the most notorious rogue agents in history, who conned several people into believing that he was an MI5 agent, and kept them in a state of fear and isolation for years. His story was exposed by Alice Archer, the woman who fell for him, and then brought him down. His story was also adapted into a movie, Rogue Agent, which starred James Norton and Gemma Arterton. Rogue agents are fascinating and frightening characters, who show us the dark side of human nature.
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