According to the City of London, two males have been found guilty of violating a 2019 public nuisance bylaw.
Friday saw the conviction of Steven Ravbar, 54, and Matthew Carapella, 36.
The men are known as London’s notorious, so-called street preachers, who have reportedly verbally harassed women on their gender, attire and appearance in public spaces, often in downtown.
According to the City, Ravbar and Carapella each received fines of $3,500 from the court.
Police said that on April 7, 2019, the two entered Elmwood Presbyterian Church and started shouting at female parishioners during a church service. As a result, the two were legally prosecuted.
Reverend Andrew Fullerton of the church said to 980 CFPL at the time that two guys had entered, sat near the back, and started shouting after the sermon.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trial date for the criminal case that Carapella and Ravbar were to represent themselves in was postponed until late May 2020.
Orest Katolyk, the City’s head of municipal compliance, stated that “the protection of women and children is a major pillar of City Council’s strategic plan.”
The convictions, he continued, “hopefully convey a clear message that this kind of abusive and demeaning language…will not be accepted.”
— Including documents from Matthew Trevithick of 980 CFPL.
Street preachers in London, Ontario, who targeted women, were found guilty and fined $7,250.
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