Bible preacher case is dropped

A Whitchurch street preacher taken to court after his Bible sermon offended a passer-by in a city centre will no longer face any charges after the case was dropped today.Anthony Rollins, who was arrested as he preached in Birmingham's New Street on June 24, had been due to face a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court today.

But the case against Mr Rollins was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service after being deemed not to be in the public interest.

The 43-year-old had denied using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Mr Rollins, who has been preaching in the city centre for about 12 years, was arrested and led away in handcuffs by police after a member of the public complained about comments he made about homosexuality.

Today Mr Rollins, who suffers from Asperger Syndrome, said: "I've been preaching the same message for 13 years with no incidents. I've always read the same message. I'm not homophobic. I'm only quoting what the word of God says, I'm not a bad man.

"The European Union Convention of Human Rights says a man has the right to express his religious beliefs, he has the right to freedom of speech. He has the right to form a public opinion, however contentious that is. My passage mentioned the word 'effeminate' and a man took that word and said it was a homophobic comment."

A spokesman for the CPS today said: "When considering whether a case should be prosecuted, the CPS applies the Code for Crown Prosecutors in two parts. These two tests are applied whatever the charge and whoever the potential defendant may be.

"The case against Mr Rollins passed both of these two tests and he was charged with using threatening abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment alarm or distress.

"On the September 8, 2008, we received some additional information from Mr Rollins's solicitors and the case was reviewed. A decision was then made to discontinue the prosecution on the basis that it was no longer in the public interest."

By Abigail Bates and Andy Rogers