Overview
- A Swindon Crown Court jury unanimously cleared Shaun O’Sullivan of racially and religiously aggravated harassment after a six‑day trial, with deliberations reported to have taken about 90 minutes.
- O’Sullivan says he intends to sue Wiltshire Police and claims he has been arrested around 16 times without a conviction, with support from the Christian Legal Centre.
- Wiltshire Police declined to comment on the individual case and stated it polices without fear or favour, pointing to force priorities set out in its crime plan.
- A video shared by O’Sullivan shows a police officer saying that saying “God bless you” could be a crime if it causes distress, and separate social‑media likes by a police employee critical of him were removed after media queries.
- Prosecutors had alleged harassment during a 15 September 2024 encounter in Swindon town centre, the trial was reported to have cost taxpayers about £20,000, and local council measures have restricted his amplified preaching.