The annoying evangelist who upset people in the East Yorkshire town of Beverley with his persistent street preaching was awarded the cash by Humberside Police after charges of religious harassment against him were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.
According to this report, Jones, 66, was due to face trial for religious harassment over claims he preached against abortion and homosexuality.
Jones, who works in Beverley three days a week, was arrested in December 2015 following the allegations. He said he had to spend the day in a cell in Bridlington police station after being arrested at his home.
The charges were eventually dropped and, following an out-of-court settlement, Humberside Police have had to pay the annoying preacher £3,000.
Said Jones:
A week ago they rang me and said they were providing me with £3,000 in compensation. But they are still holding my DNA, fingerprints and photograph and I don’t think that’s right.
It’s not about the money, really. I don’t care that much about the money although it is very handy and I will be giving some of it away to various charities.
I’m pleased. I have had no trouble with the police before or since and I’m still out there.
Last year, Beverley residents and Toll Gavel shops started a petition to get him banned from the area and said it was “outrageous” charges against him had been dropped.
Now, residents and shop owners in the vicinity where Jones regularly preaches, say they will continue to fight to have him banned from the area, following the petition they set up last summer.
The petition, which has been signed by a number of shops, including Heron Frozen Foods, New Look and Cooplands Bakery, has been handed to both the police and East Riding Council.
Jones said it was a shock that he had been detained by police in the first place.
It was the first time I have been arrested, ever. It’s not a nice experience to be put into cells and be locked up. It was not very nice at all.
Humberside Police said it was a civil matter so could not comment.
Hat tip: Vanity Unfair