TikTok conspiracy theorist who took Andrew Tate online course jailed for three years

He received a lengthy prison sentence for his behaviour

A TikTok conspiracy theorist with a ‘God complex’ left his ex-girlfriend suicidal and caused her to suffer meltdowns and hospitalisations during an abusive and controlling relationship, a court has heard.

Karl Farr, 31, was sentenced to 39 months in prison for controlling and coercive behaviour and breaching a non-molestation order against former partner Katie Saunders during a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Friday (August 14).

Farr, from North Common in South Gloucestershire, filmed his ex while she was having autistic meltdowns triggered by his behaviour and then told her he would use the footage to show she wasn’t fit to look after her children if she reported him to the police, the court heard.

Ms Saunders told the court that Farr had taken total control of her life, with his behaviour causing her to end up in hospital. The relationship began in May 2023 but by the end of that year he had become so jealous and controlling that she became isolated from her friends and family. Farr’s threats made Ms Saunders feel like she could not break up with him.

“During my relationship with the defendant, he caused me to suffer a huge amount of stress,” Ms Saunders said. “This stress resulted in many autistic meltdowns and shutdowns. I experienced hospitalisations due to burn out and illness and became a shell of my former self.

“This (behaviour) was so that I would be submissive to the defendant…It was relentless and a constant battle. I would beg him to stop.

“He would taunt me until I broke down completely, yet he would always carry on. That, in itself, was terrifying.”

Under the account name ‘Karl, of the Code’, Farr peddled fringe opinions to over 40,000 followers on social media and regularly used his TikTok account to dismiss the validity of the judicial process. He also subscribed to ‘Hustlers University’, a paid online course run by manosphere influencer and alleged rapist Andrew Tate.

Talking through tears, her voice sometimes quivering with rage, Ms Saunders told the court about the direct impact Farr’s extremist views had on her life. She said he convinced her that her children would find her dead because she had taken the covid vaccine.

“He (also) persuaded me to stop taking all my medication, fed me chlorine dioxide in every drink, and insisted on extreme detoxes,” she said.

“I was made to believe this was healthy. It stripped me of my freedom and left me significantly worse.”

“For the past two years, life for both myself and my children has been significantly affected by his behaviour, carried out with a God complex mentality, an attitude of being above the law, and a complete lack of accountability or remorse for those harmed by his actions.”

As she spoke, Ms Saunders occasionally glanced at Farr who sat impassively in the dock, sometimes staring at his phone.

After Ms Saunders eventually ended the relationship in March 2024, Farr continued to harass and stalk her, including by making new social media profiles when she blocked him and sitting near her house in an unregistered car.

On one occasion in December 2024, he let himself into her home while she was ill in bed and subjected her to a torrent of abuse. The relentless attempts to contact and intimidate Ms Saunders continued even after Farr was issued with a legal non-molestation order.

“The message was clear, nothing would get rid of you,” presiding judge Recorder Brian Fitzherbert said.

“Ms Saunders was powerless to stop you, or so you wanted her to believe.”

Ms Saunders said the effects of Farr’s behaviour continued to linger, over two years since the end of their relationship.

“It is difficult to convey the full complexity of what I have endured,” she told the court.

“I obsessively check windows, doors, cameras, emails, and alarms. I lose sleep, experience flashbacks, and relive the fear.

“I jump at every phone call or message, terrified it may bring news that something has happened to my children. I fear the arrival of (the) post and constantly look over my shoulder, hyper aware of my surroundings.”

Prosecuting barrister Georgia Luscombe pushed for Mr Fitzherbert to give Farr a lengthy prison term because of the seriousness of the harm he had caused his ex-girlfriend. The judge agreed, citing Ms Saunders’ autism and Farr’s disregard for court orders as aggravating factors as he handed him one of the longest permitted sentences for his crime.

“You knew that she would take your threats very literally and was likely to panic,” Mr Fitzherbert said.

“Your deliberate manipulation of Ms Saunders left her feeling suicidal…your view was simply that court orders did not apply to you….The simple fact is that you like to be in control and being subject to court orders which control you is intolerable to you, as is the idea that Ms Saunders could free herself from your control.”

Defending himself, Farr said Ms Saunders had also behaved in a controlling manner during their relationship. He claimed he stopped contacting her as soon as he was made aware of the non-molestation order.

The judge dismissed both claims based on evidence heard throughout the trial.

Farr also produced a bizarre statement signed by multiple people defending his character that he said ‘had come from Ireland’, which claimed he showed remorse and helped people by educating them about cryptocurrency and how to guard against online scams.

“It asked me to take into account that you have shown remorse and a willingness to learn from this experience, that’s completely the opposite of what I’ve seen in this case,” Mr Fitzherbert said.

Farr tried to frustrate the sentencing hearing by claiming the police and prosecutors made a series of procedural errors during his trial and withheld evidence from the jury.

“The jury have returned their verdicts, the trial is now over, I can do nothing about that,” Mr Fitzherbert.

Farr said he intended to appeal against his conviction and issued a half-hearted apology to Ms Saunders as it began to dawn on him that he faced a long time behind bars. However, he could not resist the urge to indulge in a final bout of pseudo-legalistic babble as he was led out of the dock to begin his sentence.

“Who’s the trustee today, clerk are you the trustee,” he shouted. “I’m not the trustee and I’m not the surety for Mr Farr.”

Farr will serve at least 50 per cent of his sentence before being released on licence. He was also given a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting Ms Saunders for five years.

Bristol Post