‘Sabotaged’: Conspiracy theorist accused of stalking cops

A disability pensioner has spoken at length in court about a “Catholic conspiracy” amid accusations he stalked three police officers and a court employee.

A Queensland conspiracy theorist will stand trial accused of stalking three police officers and a court employee over several months.

Among the allegations against the disability pensioner is that he telephoned the father of one of the female complainants and posed as a reporter during the call.

Russell Gordon Haig Mathews, 73, addressed the court for 50 minutes during Wednesday’s committal hearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court claiming there was a “catholic conspiracy” against him involving police officers, magistrates, and various government organisations.

Russell Mathews at Ipswich Courthouse in January. Photo: Ross Irby.

Mr Matthews is charged with four counts of unlawful stalking in February-August 2019, June-August 2019, and January-February 2021. All allegedly took place in Booval, Ipswich.

Prosecutor Andreas Galloway said the police evidence centred around “search warrant photos” and “print out PDFs” of articles on Mr Matthews’ conspiracy website, which The Courier-Mail has chosen not to name.

Magistrate Julian Noud said the allegations included Mr Matthews finding one complainant’s personal details and sending her photos connected to her husband along with “harassing and derogatory language”.

Magistrate Noud said Mr Matthews allegedly called the father of one of the complainants in an attempt to “solicit further information” by posing as a reporter.

Ipswich City Council officers removed conspiracy-riddled signs from Mr Matthews’ Booval home, which faces the busy Brisbane Road. Photo: Andrew Korner.

Mr Matthews, who represented himself and appeared via telephone, went off on various tangents speaking in his defence for 50 minutes.

He claimed the police illegally entered his Brisbane property in 2004 and claimed there was a conspiracy against him which resulted in the phones he used at his previous Townsville tax accounting business being “sabotaged” which caused him to go bankrupt.

Mr Matthews repeatedly referenced his brain damage and said it was not being taken into account. He said he had been “denied natural justice” and said the court case was “a rort”.

Mr Matthews has previously gained notoriety for displaying conspiracy signs pointing to his website outside his house on the busy Brisbane Rd in Booval. The Courier-Mail has chosen not to include a photo of the signs, which have since been removed by Ipswich City Council.

Magistrate Noud concluded there was sufficient evidence on all four charges to commit Mr Matthews for trial in Brisbane District Court. A trial date will be set in due course.