Christian street preacher Shaun O’Sullivan has been acquitted by a jury in the UK after facing criminal prosecution over a so-called “hate claim” first lodged in 2024.

The claim arose from a complaint that O’Sullivan had expressed support for Jewish people while preaching – reportedly saying, “We love the Jews” and “pray for the Jews and pray for the Palestinians” while a group of Muslims passed by.

Despite the benign and non-hateful nature of his remarks, police pursued the matter and prosecutors took the case all the way to trial.

Christian Legal Centre, which supported O’Sullivan, reports that this is the first time his case has reached a jury. Previous allegations had been dropped before trial. This time, however, O’Sullivan endured the stress of a full criminal process, substantial legal costs, and the threat of a conviction for simply speaking publicly about his faith.

A unanimous jury ultimately cleared him of all charges, confirming that his preaching was lawful and protected expression.

This case is another illustration of the growing dangers for Christians in the UK, where police and prosecutors are increasingly aggressive in pursuing “hate claims” – but often only in one direction.

As Christian Legal Centre CEO Andrea Williams noted after the acquittal, O’Sullivan “stood his ground, and in doing so he has exposed the double standards and two-tiered policing that has taken hold in Britain”.

She warned that ordinary Christian speech is being treated as criminal while far more concerning behaviour is ignored, reflecting a profound cultural shift that threatens free expression and religious liberty.

Though this incident occurred overseas, it carries clear lessons for Australia. HRLA has defended street preachers and activists who have faced similar pressures here at home. In cases such as Allan Duxfield’s, police intervention and complaints have been used to intimidate and silence lawful preaching in public spaces. Earlier this year, “Billboard Chris” Elston was threatened with arrest and fined by Brisbane City Council not for preaching but for holding a sign and having conversations with passers-by.

HRLA successfully defended Mr Duxfield and also assisted Mr Elston in having his fine dropped, pushing back against unjustified intervention by authorities in both cases.

We have also reported previously on O’Sullivan’s earlier charges that were dropped before trial. This most recent ordeal shows how fragile free speech becomes when police powers are used to investigate or punish “offence” rather than genuine threats or violence.

Once complaints alone are enough to trigger criminal proceedings, even innocent and uncontroversial religious expression becomes dangerous.

If these trends continue, street preaching could effectively become impossible without legal defence. That is why HRLA remains committed to defending Australians who face police pressure, workplace punishment, or legal action for speaking openly about their faith.

O’Sullivan’s acquittal is a victory, but it is also a warning.

Freedom of speech and religion must be actively guarded, or they will be quietly eroded. HRLA will continue to stand with those who face hostility for living and speaking according to their conscience – ensuring that Christian expression in public remains lawful, protected, and free.