Marchwood army veteran Adam Smith-Connor, supported by ADF UK, facing BCP prosecution for praying outside abortion facility

AN army veteran from Marchwood will stand trial for breaching a public order by praying in silence outside an abortion facility.

Adam Smith-Connor (49), of Kingfisher Way, Marchwood, pleaded not guilty at Poole Magistrates’ Court to breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order around the facility in Ophir Road, Bournemouth, last November.

The order, put in place by BCP Council, prevents “protesting” in relation to abortion issues, including prayer and counselling.

Smith-Connor, a physiotherapist, is being supported by the UK branch of the US-based conservative Christian legal advocacy group ADF UK, which has decried the prosecution and says he is being targeted for “thought crime”.

Speaking outside Poole Magistrates’ Court after pleading, Smith-Connor, who is due to stand trial on 16th November, said: “We are standing in the nation of the Magna Carta, the nation which has championed democracy and freedom.

“We have a history of upholding human rights we can be proud of, and a respect for freedom that I fought to uphold when I served this country for 20 years in the army reserves, including in Afghanistan. Yet here I stand before you on the steps of Poole Magistrates’ Court being prosecuted for a thought crime.

“The facts of my case are clear. I am accused of breaching an abortion clinic buffer zone by praying for my son Jacob and other victims of abortion, for their families and for abortion clinic staff on Ophir Road, Bournemouth.

“I did not approach anyone, I did not speak to anyone, I did not breach anyone’s privacy. I simply stood silently. I am being tried for the prayerful thoughts I held in my head.”

Outside the court, ADF UK supporters held signs that read “thought police” and “looks like you’ve had a little too much to think!”

A BCP Council spokesperson said it was alleged the defendant had failed to leave the area covered by the Public Spaces Protection Order when asked by an authorised officer.

“Following a hearing at Poole Magistrates’ Court on 9th August, the council can confirm that Mr Smith-Connor has been charged with breaching a term of the Public Spaces Protection Order for Ophir Road and the surrounding area.

“The allegations are that on 24th November 2022 Mr Smith-Connor failed without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement of the order, in that he failed to leave the required area when asked by an authorised officer.

“Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, the council is unable to make a further statement in relation to this matter.”

Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK, who appeared at court with Smith-Connor, said: “This marks the third time this year that we at ADF UK have come to the defence of a citizen facing charges simply for their thoughts, exercised in a public space.

“If Adam had been thinking about an issue other than abortion – for example, climate change – then there would be no hearing taking place today.

“Citizens in this country should be equally free to hold thoughts about the important social issue of abortion, and how it has impacted their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

“And in any democracy with a respect for religion freedom, all should be allowed to pray to the God that they worship, no less, in the privacy of their own minds.”

He added: “In permitting the prosecution of silent prayer, we are sailing into dangerous waters regarding human rights protections in the UK.”