Case dropped against street preachers who refused to stop preaching

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has dropped a case against two street preachers who were arrested after refusing to stop preaching on Glastonbury High Street.

John Dunn and Shaun O’Sullivan were arrested last June under section 35 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 following complaints made by members of the general public. 

The two men, who’re being supported by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), had been handing out leaflets and preaching against same-sex sexual practice and transgenderism from 1 Corinthians 6:9. 

The CLC said that one officer on the scene was wearing an ‘ask my pronouns’ badge. 

When Mr O’Sullivan referred to one in every of the officers as a person, the officer said to him: “I’m going to challenge that as you do not know whether I’m a person or a lady, I’m an individual, okay.”

When the preachers asked what laws that they had broken, the officers said that they had received complaints that their preaching had caused “harassment, alarm and distress”. They also told the lads that “we would have to remove you to forestall a breach of the peace”. 

When Mr O’Sullivan asked what it was that had caused offence, an officer replied, “I understand you were saying stuff from the Bible that’s controversial … for the time being I need that to stop,” to which Mr O’Sullivan says that he won’t stop preaching even when he’s arrested. 

Later within the exchange, Mr O’Sullivan is told that a grievance has been made that he allegedly likened homosexuals to paedophiles, which he denied saying. 

Both men were arrested after refusing to stop preaching and leave the world. 

After the CPS decided to take the case forward, a hearing was held at Taunton Magistrates’ Court this week that might have led to each men being convicted.

The case was dropped after the CPS didn’t offer evidence for the costs and the judge awarded the road preachers their legal fees and travel costs. 

Following the hearing, Mr Dunn expressed his concerns about free speech for Christians.

“The response from the police was completely disproportionate and a transparent example of the two-tier policing that’s rife on our streets immediately,” he said. 

“When I preach, I only ever say what’s within the Bible. It could be very disconcerting if you end up approached by law enforcement officials accusing you of a ‘hate crime’ for allegedly being ‘homophobic’ and so they have rainbow lanyards around their necks.

“It doesn’t give any confidence that the lawful expression of Christian beliefs on these issues will probably be respected or defended.”

Mr O’Sullivan said: “We are determined to fight for justice on this matter. It can’t be right that terrorist sympathisers are acting with impunity on UK streets, and yet we face being convicted for expressing our Christian beliefs from the Bible.

“I meant it once I said that we were there because we love the people of Glastonbury and wanted them to know the Good News of Jesus Christ.”

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, called for police impartiality.

“Christian open-air preaching has a protracted and revered history on this country and have to be protected and defended in any respect costs,” she said. 

“John and Shaun are captivated with reaching the general public with the Christian faith that has transformed their lives. They were well inside their rights to evangelise and to proceed preaching on Glastonbury High Street without being forced to maneuver on or fearing arrest.

“It shouldn’t be an offence if someone is offended by the reality of the Bible. The police have to be impartial and uphold the law, not LGBTQI+ identity politics.”