A PENSIONER who committed ‘hate crimes’ against a Monk Bretton vicar has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Deputy District Judge Paul Healey found 81-year-old Jack Brown guilty of harassing Father Brian Bell, of St Paul’s Church, following a trial earlier this month.
He returned to Barnsley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to sentence the former county councillor, of Lamb Lane, Monk Bretton, who sent letters to Fr Bell and other notable figures - including Archbishop of York John Sentamu and Pope Francis - questioning the then new-in-post vicar’s sexuality from October 2016 to September 2017.
Brown was sentenced to eight weeks’ custody, which was suspended for 12 months, and an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting Fr Bell or setting foot on the church grounds.
Mr Healey said: “You pleaded not guilty to harassment and took this to a trial. You approached Fr Bell with a personal question and it was his absolute right to refuse to answer.
“He asked for you to refrain from further correspondence with him. You failed to comply and went on to contact prominent people, knowing very well the impact you were having.
“Fr Bell was deeply upset during the trial as this ordeal went on for around a year - a substantial period of time - a time in which he was new in the post and was seeking to build new friendships.
“This was a hate crime as it was based on the issue of sexuality. You have shown no remorse whatsoever. It’s pure and simple harassment and it does cross the custody threshold.”
Brown’s solicitor, Philip Howard, said his client intended to appeal the conviction.
“Mr Brown is still of the opinion he did not commit harassment. He had no intention of insulting or alarming Fr Bell. He wanted to know if he was homosexual as he has strong feelings about that within the clergy.
“He has no animosity towards him - he just wanted to know the situation. Mr Brown has worked a hard and industrious life in the community and has never received criticisms.
“He is 81, is having ongoing treatment for Parkinson’s and suffers with poor health. He is hard of hearing and says much of the trial passed him by.
“He is going through an amicable divorce and is looking for other accommodation.
“It is sad a man in his 80s is before the court. I think it is a pity this couldn’t have been addressed in another way.
“I do not see this as a hate crime. As a Church of England member, the topic of homosexuality is subject to debate. He has his own views and this was an enquiry.”
In a statement, Brown, added: “Despite the court’s awareness of my hearing difficulties, the only testimony I heard was my own and I had to repeatedly ask both questioners to repeat themselves.
“The judge showed his total incomprehension of contempt for the religious dimension of the case and my own religious belief when he stopped me swearing my oath to the Goddess.
“Because of his incomprehension, the judge would not permit my representative to ask if the complainant was ‘homosexual’.
“The judge silenced me every time I tried to transcend the court’s homophilia.”
Brown was also told to pay court costs of £620 and a £115 victim surcharge.
