A Christian woman who was originally charged last year with silently praying outside an abortion clinic in Birmingham is now facing five charges after prosecutors brought fresh allegations against her.

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce is accused of breaching an abortion clinic buffer zone on five separate occasions by standing and praying silently within 150 metres of the clinic.

The five charges were brought this week, replacing an earlier single charge which a judge said was not properly drafted.

Vaughan-Spruce has pleaded not guilty. She does not dispute that she was within the 150m buffer zone, but her lawyers argue that silently praying and being present did not amount to a criminal offence and that her prosecution breaches her freedom of thought and religion.

Vaughan-Spruce was previously acquitted in a separate case after being arrested twice over silent prayer, and received a £13,000 settlement from West Midlands Police.

The charity volunteer was the first person to be charged under national buffer zone legislation, which came into force in October 2024 and prohibits “influencing any person’s decision to access, provide or facilitate the provision of abortion services” within 150m of abortion facilities.

Responding to the new charges brought against her, she said: “Standing silently and holding certain beliefs in a public space should never be a crime. Yet, despite being vindicated of wrongdoing on multiple occasions and receiving a financial settlement after two wrongful arrests, I was once again charged last year for my mere presence within a “buffer zone”, and have today received fresh charges.

"I am deeply troubled by this violation of the basic right to my own thoughts and to my deeply-held Christian pro-life convictions. I pray that common sense and freedom will prevail, so that no one else has to face criminal treatment for what they believe.“

Her trial is expected to take place next January.