Ashford Man’s Bizarre Kidnap Hoax Nets Him Jail
Christopher Sellman spun a twisted web of lies, pretending he’d been kidnapped and was in dire danger. His aim? To squeeze thousands of pounds from two people who trusted him. But cops smelt a rat when they spotted the same spelling and grammar mistakes in Sellman’s texts — and those from his so-called kidnappers.
Fake Kidnap Photos and Threats Rattle Victims
On 15 February 2021, the terrified victims got creepy messages from an unknown number. Along with the texts, there was a chilling photo of Sellman with a razor blade pressed to his throat. The kidnappers demanded cash be sent to a bank account controlled by Sellman himself.
Worried sick, the victims paid up. But the torment didn’t stop there.
- More texts hit them the next day, claiming Sellman owed even more.
- The victims stepped in again, coughing up more cash.
- On 24 February, another demand arrived — this time with a photo of Sellman holding a gun in his mouth.
- The victims paid £1,000 in a desperate bid to keep him safe.
Threats Escalate as Victims Call Police
By 15 March, the fake kidnappers threatened violence and said they knew where the victims lived. Frightened, the victims called in kent-police/" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="7663">Kent Police.
More gruesome pictures followed — Sellman with a crossbow pressed to his face, a razor at the back of his head, and a video showing someone forcing his head underwater.
The victims changed phone numbers, but the texts just shifted to email and social media. Altogether, they handed over around £10,000, terrified for both their own safety and Sellman’s.
Police Bust The Fake Kidnap Scam
Detectives noticed the same wording mistakes on both sides and raided Sellman’s former Ashford home on 24 March. They found weapons matching those in the photos and phones loaded with threatening messages.
Sellman, now of no fixed address, was arrested for blackmail. His ex-partner, Stephanie Gibb, 28, also got charged for playing a part.
Sellman pleaded guilty and got two years and four months in prison at Canterbury Crown Court on 2 September. Gibb landed an 18-month suspended sentence.
“Sellman showed an appalling abuse of trust for those who care about him, faking his own kidnap and torture for money to spend on sports clothing and takeaways,” said PC Edward Pegg.
“The victims were terrified of the consequences if they didn’t pay, their only concern being to protect Sellman.”
“My thoughts are with the victims, and I hope they are able to look forward and take the time they need to recover from this incident.”
