A STREET preacher who has won three legal cases against him is back in court for a fourth time next week.

Mike Overd, of Creech St Michael, this week won an appeal against a conviction for a religiously-aggravated public order offence.

It was the second time a guilty verdict at a magistrates' court had been overturned by judges, while another case was thrown out due to lack of evidence.

In this week's hearing at Bristol Crown Court, judges ruled there was no proof that Mr Overd's preaching in the city's Broadmead Shopping Centre in July last year was religiously aggravated.

Judge Martin Picton said he was "conscious of the right of freedom of speech and freedom of expression".

Mr Overd, 53, and co-defendant Michael Stockwell, 51, of Selden, New York, had originally been fined £300 each and ordered to jointly pay court costs of £3,372.

After the appeal verdict, Mr Overd said: "I'm saddened at what's going on.

"This is not an isolated case. How many times must we go to court before there is respect for the law?

"My heart bleeds for this country, but I am a patriot and I will be back on the streets to preach."

"My life is not my own. I am a Christian soldier and I rejoice in this persecution."

Mr Overd said he plans to plead not guilty to a charge of a religiously aggravated public order offence when he appears before Taunton magistrates on Friday.

He said he was charged after telling passers-by in Taunton town centre that Saudi Arabia is an "evil, wicked nation" because of its human rights record and added: "Islam is a death cult."

Mr Overd told the Gazette: "It's about time somebody starts to ask questions.

"I'm not impressed to say the least by the campaign against me - how much money has been used trying to take me down?

"I'm a nobody. The police have no respect for judges. Something rotten is happening.

"If you stand on what the Bible says, bad stuff's going to come from here, there and everywhere.

"We're in a dire situation in our country.

"The Christian liberties that founded our nation are being so threatened. You can't have an opinion and stand on your faith."