A Christian preacher has had his appeal against a conviction relating to protesting outside an abortion clinic in Ealing last year dismissed by the Crown Court.

Stephen Green, 72, of Carmarthen, was convicted in Uxbridge Magistrates Court in February 2024.

The hearing took place on Monday (October 28) at Isleworth Crown Court, with the dismissal announced last Thursday (November 28). The incident took place in February 2023 outside a clinic in Ealing when Green stood with what was described as a 'large sign' containing the Psalm text: "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb."

He pleaded not guilty to breaching the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) prohibiting protests by law.

In the case before Uxbridge Magistrates Court in February he proclaimed his right to his freedom of free speech, however District Judge Kathryn Verghis said he had "pointedly and intentionally" included the words "in my mother's womb" as "an act of protest".

Isleworth Crown Court, led by His Honour Judge Hammerton and accompanied by two magistrates, cited the verse's reference to "the development of the unborn child" as evidence that this was in fact a violation of the PSPO and a protest against abortion and the clinic instead of the buffer zone as claimed.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Green claimed he was not protesting abortion of the abortion clinic specifically, rather the existence of zone around the clinic preventing protest.

He said: "They decided I was protesting against abortion which is illegal in a PSPO… I say that Ealing Council by their prohibited words have prohibited over 1000 verses of the King James bible.

"It's well known that I oppose abortion… but nevertheless this was a buffer zone, in my sight. In fact, in February 2023 I went around all local authority buffer zones… Ealing, Twickenham, Bournemouth, Manchester and Birmingham protesting the buffer zone and the only council that took me to court were Ealing."

He went on to say he didn't see any women go in or out of the clinic, and he believes it was the staff who called to make complaints about him. Mr Green told the LDRS that he is confident he has grounds for another appeal.

Green, a preacher and National Director of the Christian Voice ministry was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £2,426 in costs and surcharge, however with his appeal dismissed he will now be liable to pay the fine. The total for Ealing Council's legal costs is yet to be determined.

The PSPO, enacted by Ealing Council in April 2018 outside the MSI Reproductive Choices Clinic in Mattock Lane, was the first so-called buffer zone surrounding an abortion clinic to be introduced in the UK.

An Ealing Council spokesperson said: "We are pleased that once again the court has found in our favour and have dismissed Mr Green's appeal.

"After reviewing extensive evidence of the detrimental impact of protests and other activities on women and girls, and their families, in 2018 the council used its powers to introduce a Safe Zone as part of a Public Safety Protection Order (PSPO) in the area around the MSI Reproductive Choices clinic on Mattock Lane.

"We are proud that in the 5 years since that decision, the order has provided protection from interference, harassment, and intimidation to women accessing the clinic to make important decisions about their health, as well as their families, clinic staff, and those living in and passing through the area. Ealing's Safe Zone – the first of its kind in the UK – has been subject to intense scrutiny and review, including by the High Court and Court of Appeal, and it has been upheld in full.

"The order carefully balances rights of freedom of expression and protest against the rights of others, including those accessing the clinic, and this has been reflected in the court's decision to uphold our order and dismiss Mr Green's appeal."