Court Acquits 72-Year-Old Evangelist Richard Johnson Prosecuted for Sharing Christian Tract In LGBTQ Safe Space
Christian evangelist, 72-years-old has been acquitted after he faced several criminal prosecution for distribution of a Bible tract somewhere in London’s Soho district. The case further brought about questioning concerning freedom of speech and religion practice.
The evangelist, Richard Johnson was reportedly prosecuted after distributing copies of an illustrated Christian tract titled Doom Town in Soho around April 2025. The book presents the biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah and contains an evangelical message which centered on sin, judgment, repentance and salvation as well.
The case was made to stand before, under Section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986. Prosecutors also argued that the circumstances which are surrounding the distribution had caused some distress, while one of the complainants described Soho as a “safe space” for LGBT.
Johnson’s defender has challenged the idea that the character of a particular neighborhood should not alter the legal standard applied to a person religious expression. His barrister by name Michael Phillips, argued with the facts that freedom of religion and freedom of anyone expression apply throughout London, including areas strongly associated with or a particular communities.
The prosecution as followed has ultimately failed to establish the criminal case against Johnson. Following a trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court on which was held on September 4, the court found him not guilty by the accusations.
The court further acknowledged that the tract was offensive and had caused genuine upset. However, being offended by religious or moral speech does not automatically establish the elements of a public-order offence. The court went ahead to say, they found no threatening conduct that would justify criminal punishment in the circumstances which had been presented.
The case involved two complainants. One appeared in court and explained his objections to the tract. The second person did not attend the trial, and the prosecution was unable to proceed with that allegation after the court rejected an application to admit his statement as hearsay.
Johnson has described himself as a Christian evangelist who has distributed Gospel literature for many years. According to evidence presented during the case, he has handed out thousands of Christian tracts across Britain and Europe.
His acquittal does not mean that offensive or threatening conduct is exempt from the law. Rather, the case turned on whether the prosecution had proved the specific legal requirements of the offence.
The verdict has since prompted renewed discussion about where the line should be drawn between protecting people from harassment and preserving the right to express religious beliefs that others may strongly disagree with.
