High Court overturns conviction of Christian man who emailed abortion images to police

A High Court judge has overturned the conviction of a pro-life campaigner who sent graphic images of abortion to the police and native officials.

David Skinner, 80, was convicted under communications laws for sending an email containing what the Crown Prosecution Service deemed to be grossly offensive images that were intended to cause distress.

The images were emailed by Mr Skinner, a committed Christian, to senior cops and native councillors in Dorset in April 2023. They were emailed in response to the introduction of an abortion clinic buffer zone within the town the previous yr. 

The email contained graphic images of aborted foetuses and other images of the Holocaust, in addition to strongly worded objections to the buffer zone and the policing of it. 

Mr Skinner was charged under communications laws and convicted and fined £3,840. He appealed his conviction and in a judgment handed down on Friday in Bournemouth, Mr Justice Saini ruled that upholding the offence would disproportionately interfere along with his rights to freedom of expression and religion.

“This is a case about freedom of expression and freedom of faith,” the judge said.

He added, “We don’t take away from the offence that the complainants would have experienced on receiving the letter. Nevertheless, we discover that it might not be a proportionate interference to permit the conviction.”

Skinner’s conviction was quashed and a defence costs order granted.

In an announcement, Skinner said he was “deeply grateful” for the ruling, adding that his intention was to not cause distress but to boost “matters of profound moral and public importance”.

“This prosecution should never have been brought. It has taken a heavy toll on me, but I hope this ruling will protect others who wish to talk out peacefully on matters of conscience without fear of being criminalised,” he said. 

The case was backed by the Christian Legal Centre, which said the choice set a crucial precedent for safeguarding religious and political speech. 

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said the judge’s ruling was “vital and principled”.

“The High Court has confirmed that even where speech is confronting or deeply uncomfortable, the criminal law can’t be used as a shortcut to silence lawful expression on matters of public interest,” she said. 

“David Skinner was targeted for expressing sincerely held Christian beliefs to public authorities about abortion and buffer zones. Today’s judgment reasserts that in a free and democratic society, the reply to speech we dislike is more debate, not criminal prosecution.

“This case should act as a warning to police and prosecutors against misusing communications laws to relax political or religious speech. David’s ordeal lasted far too long, and we hope this judgment will prevent similar injustices in future.”