Christian woman pleads “not guilty” to NEW charges for silent prayer outside abortion facility

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, charity volunteer and director of March for Life UK has pleaded not guilty to new charges for silently praying outside an abortion clinic during a preliminary hearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court last week. The criminal trial is set for 25-29 January 2027. 

The preliminary hearing last week took place after her former plea of “not guilty” in relation to charges in December 2025 for praying silently outside an abortion facility. 

Ms Vaughan-Spruce was the first person to be criminally charged under the UK’s “buffer zone” legislation, which was introduced in October 2024. Under the law, an individual is prohibited from “influencing any person’s decision to access, provide or facilitate the provision of abortion services” within 150m of any facility where abortions are carried out. 

The legal team representing Ms Vaughan-Spruce argued that the charges are in direct conflict with the fundamental human right of freedom of thought and religious expression, as per Articles 9 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. 

It has been further argued by her legal team that Ms Vaughan-Spruce is being discriminated against, since the prosecution’s case centres around the fact that her presence in the “buffer zone” only became an issue as a result of her openly pro-life stance — therefore tacitly acknowledging that if it weren’t for her anti-abortion views, Ms Vaughan-Spruce’s presence within the “buffer zone” would not have been considered an offence.

The hearing

Judge Tan Ikram who is presiding over the case noted on the first day of the hearings that the legislation which the charges rely upon requires an “act” to be committed within the buffer zone, commenting further that the charge against Ms Vaughan-Spruce was “not properly drafted” and the burden rests with the prosecution “to make it clear”. 

Judge Ikram later stated that “standing is not a crime”, regardless of how many times Ms Vaughan-Spruce did so outside an abortion facility, and the focus ought to be on ascertaining whether Ms Vaughan-Spruce had the requisite intent to influence or harass others within the buffer zone. This came after Ms Vaughan-Spruce, on the second day of the hearing, had five fresh charges brought against her by the prosecution — one for each time she was caught standing and praying silently within the buffer zone. 

Judge Ikram also stated that the case was not about “abortion rights”, and that “courts are not here to pass judgement on people’s views”. 

Standing silently and holding certain beliefs in a public space should never be a crime. Yet, despite being vindicated of wrongdoing on multiple occasions and receiving a financial settlement after two wrongful arrests, I was once again charged last year for my mere presence within a “buffer zone”, and have today received fresh charges. I am deeply troubled by this violation of the basic right to my own thoughts and to my deeply-held Christian pro-life convictions. I pray that common sense and freedom will prevail, so that no one else has to face criminal treatment for what they believe.”

— Isabel Vaughan-Spruce

Jeremiah Igunnubole, barrister and legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom in London, said:

“To criminally charge someone simply for holding a certain belief within a certain location amounts to thought policing, which has no place in a democratic society.

“Far from criminalising harassment and abusive behaviour – which are already criminal offences – buffer zones are being used to punish those engaged in peaceful conduct for nothing other than what they think or believe.

“This censorial, over-broad law has shown itself to be deeply flawed, liable to misuse along ideological lines, and harmful to basic freedoms. If simply thinking the ‘wrong’ thing can result in criminal prosecution, the UK can no longer call itself a free country. Alliance Defending Freedom will continue to stand firm in our defence of every person’s fundamental right to their own thoughts and beliefs.”