Preaching Jesus was breaching Covid rules

An open-air preacher arrested for preaching on Sutton High Street, South London on Easter Sunday 2020 has had his fine for breaching Covid rules increased by magistrates.

An officer reportedly told Andrew Sathiyavan, a full-time voluntary worker for Gospel Light Ministries, that preaching in the street was ‘unacceptable’. Police handcuffed him, took him to a police station and fined him £400.

On appeal, City of London magistrates not only refused to overturn the fine, but increased it by £100. He was also ordered to pay £300 in costs and a £32 victim surcharge. The judge ruled that street preaching was not a valid reason for being out on the streets, because Sathiyavan could have streamed it online.