A woman who maintains she was engaged in silent prayer outside an abortion facility has formally denied allegations of breaching the Public Order Act. Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a 48-year-old resident of Malvern in Worcestershire, faces accusations of attempting to influence individuals seeking services at a Birmingham abortion clinic.
Court Proceedings and Charges
The charges, presented at Birmingham Magistrates' Court, state that Vaughan-Spruce was present within a designated 'safe access zone' surrounding the Robert Clinic on five separate occasions during the previous year. The prosecution contends that her presence was either intentional or reckless regarding its potential effect on influencing any person's decision to access or facilitate abortion services.
Appearing in court dressed in a short-sleeved black and brown hooped dress, Vaughan-Spruce spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth, address, and to enter a plea of not guilty to the single charge.
Legal Arguments and Human Rights Considerations
Her legal representative, Annie Fendrich, indicated that the case will centre on several key issues. These include whether Vaughan-Spruce's conduct falls under the scope of Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023, whether her actions were intentional, and whether the application of the law in this instance violates her fundamental human rights.
Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023, which became enforceable on October 31, 2024, establishes a criminal offence for any person within a 150-metre safe access zone around an abortion clinic in England and Wales to influence, obstruct, or harass anyone accessing the facility.
Revised Trial Arrangements
Initial plans for a five-day trial were dismissed by His Honour Judge Tanwer Ikram. The judge ruled that, as the factual circumstances of the case are not contested, the testimony of five prosecution witnesses originally scheduled would not be necessary. A new trial date has been set for October 6, with an estimated duration of four days.
Previous Legal History and Acquittal
Vaughan-Spruce, who works as a charitable volunteer, was previously acquitted in a 2023 court case. She had been arrested for praying within a local 'buffer zone' under a Public Spaces Protection Order that prohibited 'expressions of approval or disapproval' regarding abortion. Notably, that incident occurred while the abortion facility was closed, and the prosecution ultimately offered no evidence to secure a conviction.
Despite this prior clearance of any wrongdoing, Vaughan-Spruce was arrested again in March 2023 for her silent thoughts in the same location, leading to an investigation that spanned several months.
Police Settlement and Ongoing Case
In August 2024, she successfully challenged the legality of her two previous arrests and received a £13,000 settlement from West Midlands Police. The current case represents a separate legal proceeding under the newer national legislation, testing the boundaries of protest, prayer, and permissible behaviour around healthcare facilities providing abortion services.
