Posted on 10/18/2003 12:33:46 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Two men who claimed to be reincarnated vampires have been banned from a churchyard and warned that they face jail after they were found guilty yesterday of religiously harassing a vicar.
The condition that they do not enter St Mary the Virgin parish church at Eling, near Southampton, Hants, was imposed by a judge who delayed sentencing them until he had seen reports.
He told Scott Bower, 26, Ben Lewis, 25, and Natalie Gibson, 19, that their behaviour towards the Rev Chris Rowberry, his wife and two children, had been "outrageous and disturbing".
During a seven-day trial at Southampton Crown Court a jury was told that the trio targeted the 45-year-old vicar because he represented the Christian faith. Both men believed themselves to be vampires, drinking each other's blood, and all three made howling noises in the churchyard late at night, posted obscene material on the parish notice board, let off fireworks and made nuisance telephone calls.
Judge John Boggis, QC, told them: "You have been convicted on overwhelming evidence of a sustained campaign of harassment against decent, ordinary people who caused no trouble to you but who were tolerant of you. It's your intolerance that was so appalling.
"You must all be prepared for custodial sentences as I regard this behaviour as utterly appalling. I hope you have seen the effect you have had on your victims as they took to the witness box to give evidence."
Bower, unemployed from Eling, and Lewis, a hotel porter from Totton, Hants, stared straight ahead as the judge gave his warning. Gibson, a student from Totton, broke down and sobbed. She is the girlfriend of Lewis and is six months pregnant. They are believed to be the first to be convicted of the charge of religiously harassing a Christian.
All three will be sentenced when they return to court on a date to be fixed. Releasing them on bail the judge made it a condition that they do not enter the church or the churchyard.
As he left the court Lewis said: "I think everyone can see how un-Christian this whole thing is. I can't believe I'll probably be going to jail. I told the truth in court but it seems that people could not handle what I was saying or understand my beliefs."
The three had all denied tormenting Mr Rowberry, his wife Karen, 46, and children Hannah, 17, and Simon, 15.
Lewis had told the jury that he saw himself as a "psychic vampire" who absorbed energy from other people. He had numerous books on vampires and had been interested in the subject since he was a child.
Because he and his friends were "Goths", dressing in black and crimson clothing, they met in places such as churchyards to avoid being ridiculed in public over their appearance. He admitted drinking blood and contributing to magazines on the subject of vampires, but denied harassing the vicar.
Despite his interest in the supernatural he said he had felt no antagonism to Christians and likened himself to Christ, because he regarded himself as an outcast.
Mr Rowberry refused to comment on the case as he left the court. Simon Barwood, a spokesman for the diocese of Winchester, which includes Mr Rowberry's church, said: "It is a relief to everyone who has been involved in this case and the events which caused it that justice has been done."
If this had happened in America, the "vampires" would have sued the church for "religious harassment" because the cross on the church building is visible from public property and the sight of the cross is causing the "vampires" "pain and suffering." The ACLU would represent the "vampires" and newspapers would editorialize against how churches discriminate against poor, helpless vampires. If Hillary ever becomes a judge, nothing will stop the witches and vampires...
Sorta gives new meaning to blood curdling.
What next?... Wearwolves?
"No Igor, there wolves..."
Boy... could we have fun with this one all day.
LOL There's always the "lose their coffins with dirt from the motherland" trick.
What's the best way to kill a vampire?
(you can always count on Cecil Adams to have the goods.)
??????
Ok... I'll bite... Young Frankenstein?
They should look in the mirror....oh, they can't do that, can they?
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