Crime
The long arm of the law doesn't stop when it reaches the Jesus Fellowship. Over the years fellowship members, ex-members and associates of the group have found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Ranging from burglary, theft, and deception to threatening behaviour and rape. Cases of underage sex and child molesting within the confines of the community have also shocked the media, in some cases taking years to be uncovered.
The Fellowship has also been the victim of crime. Ranging from arson attacks on fellowship houses, attacks against fellowship members and vehicles, and a visitor to New Creation Farm setting alight farm animals.
Membership of a New Creation Community households often benefits fellowship members who find themselves facing charges. At times magistrates have considered membership of the fellowship as a form of rehabilitation. At other times the strict conditions and the sparse lifestyle within the New Creation Community households has been stated in mitigation. Those who find themselves in custodial sentences are usually assured a place back within the fellowship's community upon their release. The recently introduced Heartcry Prison Release Programme, also offers those inmates who weren't previously fellowship members a place to live and work upon their release.
In 2004, a Jesus Fellowship member, (and another woman) were jailed for trying to beat the devil out of a 6 year old using a bamboo cane.
14/09/2004 : BULLY WHO BEAT CHILD WITH BAMBOO IS JAILED
In 2003 funeral directors where called to a home in Bugbrooke.
Northampton Chronicle and Echo 05/09/2003 :
Woman upset at funeral hoax
In 2002, a Jesus fellowship member was jailed for five and a half years after pleading guilty to breaking into a house in Nether Heyford and raping a 21-year-old.
15/07/2002 : RAPE CHARGE
16/07/2002 : MAN, 23, CHARGED WITH RAPE
20/07/2002 : MAN IN COURT IS ACCUSED OF RAPE
12/09/2002 : CHURCH RAPIST TELLS OF REGRET
In early 2002, A community house named 'New Life' in the St. James area of Northampton was damaged following an arson attack.
26/03/2002 : FIREBUG HITS JESUS CENTRE
The Fire Damaged Community House.
In 2001 a man who turned to the Jesus Army for help was sentenced to three years for manslaughter after preparing a syringe for another man who subsequently overdosed. He was later released after an appeal.
14/12/2001 : HEROIN APPEAL UPHELD
24/05/2001 : DRUG USER JAILED FOR MANSLAUGHTER
In 2000, a Jesus fellowship member was jailed for eighteen-months after pleading guilty to three charges of threatening behaviour, having an offensive weapon, theft, failing to surrender to bail and breaking a conditional discharge imposed for criminal damage.
27/06/2000 : ALCOHOL PROBLEMS LED TO CRIMES
In 2000 a man who joined the fellowship was sentenced for 15 months for possession of drugs.
01/09/2000 : SPANISH DRUG DEALER JAILED
In 2000, a visitor to New Creation Farm was jailed for six-months for cruelty to animals after dousing a chicken in petrol and burning it alive.
24/05/2000 : MAN IS JAILED FOR TORCHING CHICKEN
24/05/2000 : SECT MEMBERS DISTRESSED AT CRUELTY
In 2000 a driver for Goodness Foods was given a two-year conditional discharge for taking indecent photographs of a child. In 2002 he was jailed for 4 years for persuading his victim to lie in court.
11/12/2002 : CHILD MOLESTER JAILED FOR FOUR YEARS
11/05/2000 : INDECENT SHOTS WERE MONEY-MAKING PLAN
In 2000 a member of the Jesus Army was jailed for 21 months for ten cases of deception.
09/03/2000 : JESUS ARMY MAN JAILED FOR CON TRICKS
In 2000 a fellowship member from New Creation Farm was given a one-year conditional discharge for two cases of threatening behaviour against police officers, after going to a nearby farm to listen to the radio.
25/01/2000 : WORKER IN SECT ABUSED OFFICER
In 1999 a fellowship member was found guilty of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl in a stable block on fellowship property.
06/11/1999 : PROBATION AFTER SEX WITH 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL
07/09/1999 : GIRL,12,HAD SEX AT SECT'S HOUSE
Daventry Express 11/11/1999 :
Jesus Man's Sex Secret
In 1997 a fellowship member was jailed for three months for molesting a 12-year-old member of the group in the early nineties.
24/05/1997 : SECT MEMBER JAILED FOR SEX ASSAULT
22/04/1997 : SECT ROBBED ME OF MY CHILDHOOD
07/04/1997 : I WAS ABUSED IN SECT HOME
In 1992 a fellowship member was jailed for two years for repeatedly sexually abusing his daughter over a three-year period starting when she was 8 years old.
06/02/1992 : CULT MEMBER IS JAILED FOR ABUSING DAUGHTER
In 1985 an escaped rapist hid with the fellowship whilst on the run from police.
22/07/1991 : WANTED MAN HID WITH JESUS SECT
In 1990 a psychiatric patient returned to burglary, theft, and deception after the Jesus Army told him to throw away his medication, and put his faith in God.
28/04/1990 : BURGLARIES SPREE BT JESUS MAN
In 1988 a man was sentenced to two years probation for a series of attacks against fellowship property and injuring a fellowship member, during a two year period.
07/06/1988 : MAN RAN HATE CRUSADE AGAINST JESUS PEOPLE
08/06/1988 : JESUS PEOPLE VENDETTA ENDS
In 1987 an ex-member of the fellowship was sentenced to 15-months youth custody after attacking a man with a milk bottle.
25/09/1987 : BOTTLE ATTACK SENDS JESUS MAN TO JAIL
In 1986, A community house named 'Trumpet House' in Northampton was damaged following an arson attack. Everyone staying at the house escaped safely.
13/12/1986 : PRAYERS AFTER 10 FLEE FIRE AT HOME
