Adam Smith-Connor, 51, travelled from his home in Marchwood to Bournemouth on several occasions to “silently pray” outside the BPAS Abortion Clinic.
The clinic is subject to a public spaces protection order (PSPO), enforced by BCP Council, in order to protect staff and service users following issues with protests.
It was previously reported Smith-Connor had visited a green space opposite the clinic on at least three occasions.
He emailed the council before each visit, informing he would be silently praying for his son who was aborted 22 years ago, for the 30 babies he assisted in killing in 2003 and for the end of abortion in the UK and across the world.
On November 17, 2022, the defendant was stood behind a tree and praying outside the clinic when he was approached by police officers.
Body-worn footage showed the exchange and the officer admitting that the PSPO was new to him and not something he was knowledgeable about.
He told Smith-Connor: “I think you know you are sailing as close to the wind as you can without breaching the PSPO.”
The defendant returned to the space on November 24, 2022, when he was approached by an authorised council officer.
After a lengthy discussion, the officer asked Smith-Connor to leave the buffer zone but he refused.
Poole Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday that Smith-Connor told the officer that it was a “corrupt zone created by corrupt politicians and that it was a ludicrous ruling”.
On December 13 he was issued a fixed penalty notice for failing to comply with a PSPO.
Following a trial at Poole Magistrates’ Court, district judge Orla Austin found that the defendant did breach the order by praying against abortion within the zone and that it would have been perceptible to the public.
She said the interference of the order made to his rights under the European Convention of Human Rights was justified in order to protect the rights of women.
Smith-Connor was found guilty of breaching a public spaces protection order.
Prosecuting for BCP Council, Kuljit Bhogal, said this was an unusual and complex case and asked for £93,441 in costs.
Ms Bhogal said Smith-Connor had a “blinkered approach” to the order and there were consequences to that.
Mitigating, Rosalind Comyn, said the defendant has no previous convictions, is of good character and volunteers at his local shelter as well as runs marathons for charities.
Judge Austin said the prosecution costs requested were 150 times the normal amount and instead ordered Smith-Connor to pay £9,000.
Smith-Connor, of Kingfisher Way in Marchwood, was handed a conditional discharge for two years.
