Mike Overd, a Christian street preacher, won his appeal against a public order conviction on 11 December.
Sitting at Taunton Crown Court, Circuit Judge David Ticehurst upheld Michael Overd’s appeal, after the Crown failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify the conviction. Mr Overd was convicted of a public order offence in March, following a conversation with a man self-identifying as homosexual, who objected to Mr Overd’s preaching.
Mr Overd welcomed the court’s decision. He said: ‘I give thanks to God for today’s vindication. In this country we are now in the ludicrous situation where the slightest accusation of a “phobia”, be it homophobia or Islamophobia, is enough to paralyse rational action by the police and authorities. The highly politicised dogma of “phobias” now too often results in trumped-up charges and legal action.
