Former spy claiming to be Jesus Christ squatting in National Trust property

After receiving a tip-off that there were squatters living in a National Trust property in Abinger Hammer, Advertiser reporter NICOLE LE MARIE visited the site.

When she got there, she discovered the centuries-old property had become home to an ex-MI5 agent and whistleblower, proclaiming himself to be Jesus Christ

Since June 25, a group of squatters linked to the 'Rainbow' movement have moved into Hackhurst Farm in Abinger.

Among those living on the site is David Shayler, a former MI5 (Security Service) officer who earned fame after being prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act for passing on secret documents to a national newspaper.

More than a decade on, Mr Shayler, who also goes by the name Messiah, now believes himself to be Jesus Christ and claims that the world will end in 2012.

He said: "I have realised that I am Jesus Christ.

"I know in my heart that I am Christ and I am here to save humanity.

"I am here to show humanity the way and to show unconditional love and that includes murderers and pederasts.

"We should not hold grudges. We have to forgive and move forward in peace."

Part of Mr Shayler's mission to save the world includes growing crops of hemp, a plant related to cannabis.

He said: "We have a plan to save the world in four months by growing hemp.

"It is perfectly balanced for a human being. It has more digestible protein than any other plant and is full of omega-3, -6 and -9 to help muscles grow and repair.

"It can also be used as a biofuel.

"If we all started growing this plant we could be free, which is why they have made it illegal, to stop people gaining freedom.

"It has always been the tactic of the aggressor to burn our crops and our homes."

He also admits to smoking the related illegal drug.

He said: "I smoke marijuana. It is a cleansing drug. It is good for stomach problems and headaches.

"There are links to cannabis curing cancer.

"It is very spiritual stuff full of dense consciousness – that is why it is illegal, because it makes you question the system."

Despite this, he also predicts that we are nearing the end of the world.

He said: "In 2012 it is widely predicted that the world will end. It is predicted there will be a massive change in people's consciousness and we will see the end of Babylon and the end of the world as we know it.

"My job is to show people the way when this happens.

"Like Jesus I have been put in prison and punished and have come to see the way."

Mr Shayler moved to Hackhurst farm after being evicted from Tyting Farm, near St Martha's Hill in Guildford.

Mr Shayler, who claims to have had lots of attempts on his life, also believes that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by the American Government.

He said: "I object to the term squatter. People don't have to pay for mortgages, tax or pay for parking tickets – these are contracts the government and banks are trying to force us into with our signatures.

"Under common law our first obligation is to God and not to the laws of this country. Our rights are God-given and they cannot be taken from us.

"The Government is imposing laws on us without our consent – the Government cannot enforce laws onto us without our consent.

"It is our common law right to be here.

"When we arrived here there was no one here and the buildings were falling to rack and ruin.

"We are saving this building."

David Kennington, National Trust property manager for the Surrey Hills, said: "We will have to get a court order because they will not leave of their own accord.

"It was empty because it needed work doing to it to bring it up to a decent standard.

"The contract was let and we were going to start work when these people moved in.

"I went there as soon as I found out they were there and they said they would agree to leave, obviously that is not the case."