Police caught out by street preacher evidence
The video of the arrest of Pastor Oluwole Ilesanmi has sparked outrage from Christians and non-Christians alike across the UK and the globe. But the story does not end with his arrest, it gets worse. Here Christian Concern’s Tim Dieppe explains what happened and how the actions of the police have been exposed. Viral video ...
12 March 2019 Articles
Video of Christian street preacher arrest goes viral
On Saturday 23 February, Oluwole Ilesanmi, a Christian street preacher and former dentist, was arrested outside Southgate tube station in London for ‘breaching the peace’. The police have said that they were called by a member of the public who had complained that the preacher was being ‘Islamophobic’ as he shared the gospel with passers-by. ...
28 February 2019 Articles
Two street preachers questioned over hate speech have all charges dropped
David Barker, who has been a street preacher for 30 years, and Stephen Wan were cleared with the help of the Christian Legal Centre. As they were preaching, a number of hecklers gathered and made trouble for the preachers. It was alleged that the preachers said “homosexuals are going to hell” and “man cannot lie ...
16 January 2018 Articles
Another street preacher cleared of all charges
Another street preacher was cleared of a public order offence charge last week at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court. Only a week after Mike Overd and Michael Stockwell’s public order convictions were overturned at Bristol Crown Court, another preacher has been acquitted of a public order offence charge. Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Andrew Frost was ...
13 July 2017 Articles
Christian street preachers acquitted of public order offences
Two Christian street preachers have today been acquitted of public order offences, after being convicted in February in what was described as a “modern day heresy trial”. Michael Overd and Michael Stockwell were found guilty under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 at Bristol Magistrates’ Court in February this year, with Prosecutor Ian Jackson claiming that ...
29 June 2017 Articles
Why we must protect our street preachers
The Christian Legal Centre’s Roger Kiska comments on two street preachers being convicted of public order offences for quoting the Bible. February 28, 2017 was a historic day in the United Kingdom as two street preachers, Michael Overd and Michael Stockwell, were convicted for comments they made while publicly preaching the gospel in Bristol. While ...
3 March 2017 Articles
Street preachers in legal battle to prevent council criminalising Christianity
A group of street preachers are at the centre of what is believed to be an unprecedented legal battle with a local authority which has tried to impose an injunction, without proper consultation, that would criminalise Christian prayer, singing and evangelism. Following an intervention by the Christian Legal Centre and local politicians, preachers have managed ...
31 March 2025 ArticlesStreet preachers in legal battle to prevent council criminalising Christianity
A group of street preachers are at the centre of what is believed to be an unprecedented legal battle with a local authority which has tried to impose an injunction, without proper consultation, that would criminalise Christian prayer, singing and evangelism.
29 March 2025 Press OfficeStreet preacher arrested in London for criticising Islam to appeal
In a concerning setback to the right of free speech, today (28 Jan 2025), the High Court has rejected the appeal of a Christian preacher arrested outside Southwark Cathedral for displaying placards which protested Islam in the wake of the London Bridge, Westminster and Manchester Arena terrorist attacks.
28 January 2025 Press Office
Street preacher appeals conviction for ‘misgendering’
A Christian lettings agent who became the first street preacher to be prosecuted and reported to counter-terrorism for alleged ‘misgendering’, is set to appeal his conviction this week at Leeds Crown Court. Dave McConnell, 42, from Wakefield, was reported by the Probation Service to the government’s counter-terrorism watchdog, Prevent, after he was arrested under section 4A Public ...
7 March 2023 Articles
Street preachers share powerful testimonies of finding Christ
The Bible was once revered in the courtroom; now it’s accused of being ‘abusive’ and ‘no longer appropriate in modern society’. With thanks to support from the Christian Legal Centre, two street preachers have recently won their cases, having both been accused of ‘hate speech’ after quoting the Bible and explaining who God is. Freedom ...
5 December 2022 Articles
Street preacher wins Easter Sunday Covid arrest case
After a two-year legal battle, a Crown Court Judge has vindicated a Christian volunteer worker who was arrested, detained in a police cell and issued with a Covid fine for preaching and supporting the homeless during lockdown. On Easter Sunday 2020, Andrew Sathiyavan, 47, was confronted by London Metropolitan police officers on Sutton High Street, ...
30 May 2022 ArticlesStreet preacher wins Easter Sunday Covid arrest case
Today, after a two-year legal battle, a Crown Court Judge has vindicated a Christian volunteer worker who was arrested, detained in a police cell and issued with a Covid fine for preaching and supporting the homeless during lockdown.
30 May 2022 Press OfficeStreet preacher to appeal Easter Sunday covid fine after police arrest
Today, a Christian volunteer is appealing a covid fine he received after being arrested for preaching and supporting the homeless on Easter Sunday 2020. Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Andrew Sathiyavan, 47, will appeal the ruling of Deputy District Judge Minhas at Isleworth Crown Court, which upheld the issuing of the fine and said ...
24 May 2022 ArticlesStreet preacher to appeal Easter Sunday covid fine after police arrest
Tomorrow, a Christian volunteer will appeal a covid fine he received after being arrested for preaching and supporting the homeless on Easter Sunday 2020.
23 May 2022 Press Office
Street preacher wins legal case after false allegations
The first Christian woman to face trial for street preaching since a landmark free speech case in 1997 has been told there was ‘no case to answer’ by a district judge. Hazel Lewis, 49, was arrested while preaching a biblical message outside Finsbury Park tube station in North London on 12 February 2020, after false ...
9 August 2021 Articles
Street preacher: ‘I was treated like a potential criminal’
A Christian charity leader has been given the first lockdown related compensation award from police after being manhandled and unlawfully prevented from preaching on the back of his truck. The incident, involving Dominic Muir, 44, a chief executive of registered Christian charities, Now Believe and Jesus Fields, took place in Blandford Forum town centre in ...
26 October 2020 ArticlesStreet preacher remains free to share the gospel
Yesterday, the Christian Legal Centre supported street preacher Mike Overd in a High Court case where police tried to impose severe restrictions on his freedom to preach in the streets of Avon and Somerset. Mike Overd has been preaching publicly ever since he became a Christian in the early 2000s. Compelled by love to share ...
6 October 2020 Articles
Street preacher wins freedom to keep preaching the gospel
UK police department Avon and Somerset Police, were seeking restrictions on Christian street preacher Mike Overd with a civil injunction application, claiming that he ‘puts lives at risk’. On Monday 5 October Avon and Somerset Police argued at a High Court hearing that Mike could cause “significant risk or harm to others.” The application for ...
5 October 2020 ArticlesStreet preachers convicted for quoting Bible in ‘modern day heresy trial’
Two street preachers have been convicted of public order offences, after a public prosecutor claimed that quoting parts of the King James Bible in the context of modern British society "must be considered to be abusive and is a criminal matter".
28 February 2017 Press OfficeStreet preachers convicted in ‘modern-day heresy trial’
Two street preachers have today been convicted of a public order offence, after a public prosecutor claimed that publicly quoting parts of the King James Bible in modern Britain should “be considered to be abusive and is a criminal matter”. Prosecutor Ian Jackson also told the court that “although the words preached are included in ...
28 February 2017 ArticlesChristian preacher to pursue Judicial Review over Bible ban and criminal conviction for holding sign in ‘censorship zone’
Christian preacher, Stephen Green, is returning to the High Court today at 12pm to seek permission for a full judicial review of the Crown Court’s refusal to state a case following his conviction for breaching the Mattock Lane Safe Zone Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Ealing, West London.
12 February 2026 Press Office
The three big threats to UK street ministry
Christian street ministry has a long and fruitful history in the United Kingdom. But in recent years the freedom to preach in the streets has been severely curtailed. We’ve supported many public ambassadors for Christ who have been arrested, prosecuted or even attacked for their Christian views. And it’s usually because they bring the light ...
23 December 2025 Articles
Preacher acquitted after ‘hate claim’ for saying ‘we love the Jews’
Christian street preacher Shaun O’Sullivan has been cleared by a jury at Swindon Crown Court after a trial that raised serious questions about freedom of speech and the policing of so-called “hate claims.” Mr O’Sullivan, 36, who is being supported by lawyers at the Christian Legal Centre, faced charges of religiously aggravated intentional harassment under ...
24 November 2025 Articles