Pastor denies homophobic talk in sermon

Preacher was‘expressing beliefs’

A street preacher is to go on trial accused of uttering homophobic remarks while allegedly delivering a sermon in Stirling city centre.

Pastor Billy Lee denies that his alleged actions in Port Street on Saturday, February 27, constituted threatening or abusive behaviour, and claims that the charge against him - if proved - would contravene his human rights.

Lee, of Law, Lanarkshire, is said to have shouted, uttered abusive remarks, and uttered homophobic remarks.

The prosecution claims the offence was aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation and would have been likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear and alarm.

At Stirling Sheriff Court yesterday (Tuesday) Lee, 50, who arrived in court accompanied by a crowd of supporters and appeared in the dock clutching a Bible, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The case was continued for trial on January 9.

The court has not yet been told what Lee is alleged to have “shouted”.

Defence solicitor Harry Couchlin said that Lee would be represented at trial by Glasgow lawyers who intended to raise “a compatibility issue” after the evidence has been heard, meaning that Lee intends to argue that a conviction would be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Prosecutor Lindsey Brooks said that the issue could be dealt with at the trial.

The depute fiscal said: “The accused’s position that he was preaching and expressing his beliefs would be part of his evidence.

“It’s the Crown’s position that it was a breach of Section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act – that he was preaching to some extent, but that some of what he said contravened the Section, although he might have considered it to be part of his ministry.”

Sheriff Christopher Shead ordered both sides to lodge details of legal authorities they intend to rely on “by the end of the last working day of 2016”.

The accused’s positions that he was preaching and expressing his beliefs would be part of his evidence