A charity volunteer and a Priest on trial for praying in an abortion exclusion zone have both been acquitted of all charges in a ruling handed down by Birmingham Magistrates’ Court this morning.

In a viral video in December, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was seen being searched and arrested by three police officers after saying that she “might be” praying inside her head while standing near an abortion clinic.

The area surrounding the facility is subject to an order which prohibits prayer, distributing information about pregnancy help services, and other activities deemed “protest”.

Reacting to the verdict this morning, Vaughan-Spruce said she was glad she’d been vindicated of any wrongdoing, but added: “I should never have been arrested for my thoughts and treated like a criminal simply for silently praying on a public street”.

“When it comes to censorship zones, peaceful prayer and attempts to offer help to women in crisis pregnancies are now being described as either “criminal” or “anti-social”. But what is profoundly anti-social are the steps now being taken to censor freedom of speech, freedom to offer help, freedom to pray and even freedom to think. We must stand firm against this and ensure that these most fundamental freedoms are protected, and that all our laws reflect this.”