Preacher who told gay teen to ‘repent his sins’ cleared after night in jail
A preacher who was accused of threatening behaviour and homophobia has declared “preaching from the Bible is not a crime” after being set free.
Evangelical Christian Gordon Larmour, 42, was accused of threatening or abusive behaviour ‘aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation’ after the incident last summer.
He spent a night in a prison cell following the accusations.
A 19-year-old openly gay man – who has not been named – made the accusation following an altercation in Ayrshire, Scotland.
He alleged that the preacher was abusive during the altercation and had followed him after he asked, “What does God think of homosexuality?”
Mr Larmour admitted to referring to the Book of Genesis and telling the gay teen: “Don’t forget to repent your sins and remember that there is a Heaven and Hell and a Judgement Day.”
The preacher also said that God created Adam and Eve to reproduce.
However a court found the man did not have a case to call due to insufficient evidence, dismissing the case after an hour long hearing.
Mr Larmour told the Scottish Daily Mail: “I can’t see why I was arrested in the first place – it was a massive overreaction and a waste of everyone’s time.
“The police didn’t listen to me.
“They took the young homosexual guy’s side straight away and read me my rights.
“I feel they try so hard to appear like they are protecting minorities, they go too far the other way.
“I want to be able to tell people the good word of the Gospel and think I should be free to do so.
“I wasn’t speaking my opinions – I was quoting from the Bible.”
Sheriff Alistair Watson or Kilmarnock Sheriff Court ruled there was no case to answer and acquitted Mr Larmour of threatening or abusive behaviour, aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation.
He also found him not guilty of a second charge of assault aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation.
