Patrick Sookhdeo found not guilty of indecent assault

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, founder of the Barnabas Fund, has been found not guilty of indecent assault at his trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Patrick Sookhdeo outside Swindon Crown Court earlier this year. SWNS

He was arrested in November 2015 at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of an assault on a woman in Plaistow, East London, in 1977, following an investigation by detectives from Newham borough.

Sookhdeo founded Barnabas Fund, which supports persecuted Christians around the world, in 1993. He was found guilty in February 2015 of a sexual assault on a woman in his office. He was also found guilty of intimidating witnesses in the case. He was given three-month community sentences for each offence and told to pay costs and a victim surcharge. At his conviction then, the judge said: 'You will be hugely punished by these convictions and your life will change for good.'

Sookhdeo resigned from the Barnabas International Aid charity after the conviction. However, the board declined to accept his resignation as its international director and he was quickly reinstated as a trustee.

He resigned as a trustee of Barnabas Aid International and from his positions as international director and chief executive of Barnabas Fund in November 2015 following his arrest on the charge on which he has now been acquitted.

News
'Being Church in a time of conflict' - Church of England confronts global threats
'Being Church in a time of conflict' - Church of England confronts global threats

Members of the Church of England’s General Synod arrived in York yesterday for five days of deliberation and discussion.  

What does true freedom look like?
What does true freedom look like?

In today’s world, “freedom” is often defined as the ability to act, speak, or think however we want. But Scripture offers a radically different, and far deeper, understanding of freedom.

NHS urged to engage meaningfully with faith groups
NHS urged to engage meaningfully with faith groups

Engagement should be more than "tokenistic", says FaithAction.

Community-led school in South Sudan brings 'spring of hope' during humanitarian crisis
Community-led school in South Sudan brings 'spring of hope' during humanitarian crisis

Fourteen years after gaining independence, a community-driven initiative is igniting hope for a better future through education in South Sudan.