Verdict: The Case of Catrin Nye v Lighthouse Global Associates Kris Deichler, Jatinder Kamra, Sukh Singh – Intention to Appeal in the Crown Court

Today, in the Stratford Magistrate’s court, Judge Susan Holdham pronounced a guilty verdict on three Lighthouse Associates, Kris Deichler, Jatinder Kamra and Sukh Singh. The three men have stated they plan to appeal the verdict. 

Over the last seven months, Kris, Jatinder and Sukh have stood trial against BBC journalist Catrin Nye’s claims of harassment. Specifically, the charge was harassment without violence, for their conduct, as described on their charge sheet, as knocking on Ms Nye’s door twice, and ringing the doorbell. Below are some (not all) of the core details of their case, to give you an overview of what has transpired. 

Given the defendants do fully intend to appeal this verdict in the Crown Court, the case is being treated as “active”. Therefore the below is a limited overview of what has transpired in the trial. We at Lighthouse will do our utmost to keep you fully, comprehensively and accurately informed as developments are made. 

The Defence: Doorstepping

The defence argument included application of fundamental rights Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights; freedom to manifest religion, the right to free speech and freedom of assembly respectively. The three men attended Ms Nye’s home on two separate occasions – the first they stated, was part of a peaceful protest in her local area that included educating the public on Ms Nye’s conduct with leaflets. In her verdict, Judge Holdham concluded that the three defendants were not acting as citizen journalists.  She believed that they were acting to “get back” at Ms Nye in response to the BBC programme she made about Lighthouse. The judge’ ruling was that their Convention rights (Articles 9, 10 and 11) were not infringed (and, if so argued to be infringed, were infringed lawfully). 

Both occasions of attending Ms Nye’s home were recorded by Sukh on film, along with intending to present Ms Nye with a personal letter written by Jatinder. Jatinder stated that this letter was an appeal to her conscience and that he wanted to express how much damage he believed she had caused to everyone at Lighthouse. The judge repeatedly stated that the three men could have posted this letter to Ms Nye but elected not to do so and dismissed their stated intentions. 

The men also intended to present a Holy Bible. The three men all stated they were attending Ms Nye’s home to “doorstep” her – i.e. interview her as part of a documentary they were making. The judge believed that presenting a Bible was not a legitimate act in its own right and did not support the case for citizen journalism.  

BBC Guidelines on Doorstepping

As part of their defence, the three Lighthouse Associates cited the BBC guidelines on doorstepping, as guidelines reflected in their conduct. Catrin Nye has followed these guidelines herself in her programme  “A Very British Cult”, among other programmes. 

The judge stated that BBC guidelines did not  justify the defendants’ behaviour, because the BBC are not arbiters of what is right and wrong journalistically. 

Responding to the BBC’s Programme – A Very British Cult

As part of their defence, all three men had stated very clearly that they were acting as independent citizen journalists, holding the BBC to account. They all expressed to the court about damage done to them and their families. 

Kris Deichler told the court that Lighthouse had made several attempts to contact BBC producer Natalie Truswell, who oversaw the production of “A Very British Cult”. 

He stated that Lighthouse contacted Ms Truswell in September 2022. Under cross-examination, Catrin Nye accepted that Lighthouse did indeed contact her BBC producer at this time. When asked if Ms Truswell’s reply was that “it is not BBC practice to respond to enquiries of this kind”, Ms Nye affirmed that would very likely have been the kind of response given.

Jatinder Kamra and Catrin Nye

Jatinder also explained to the court his extensive research into journalism, the laws of journalism as part of the work Lighthouse was doing to make their documentary and engage with Catrin Nye. 

During the testimony of Lighthouse Associate Daniel Schmitz, the court was later shown a video of Jatinder and Catrin Nye engaging in a conversation outside BBC Broadcasting House in July 2024. The court saw on the video Jatinder asked a total of six questions to Nye. In the video, she stated she had answered a lot of questions. Judge Holdham referenced this interaction in her ruling. She noted that Ms Nye did not answer any of Mr Kamra’s questions. She also noted that Ms Nye was not likely to answer any questions by the men visiting her at home, therefore stated that the act of going to her home was not an act of citizen journalism. 

Visiting Catrin Nye’s Home

As part of his evidence, Sukh Singh told the court that Ms Nye had undertaken extensive conflict zone training to deal with distressing situations. In light of this, he felt that Nye would not be alarmed or distressed by attending her home. The judge’s ruling does not reflect this. 

The prosecution stated to Sukh in cross examination, that there was no hostile environment when he participated in attending at Nye’s home. 

The judge, in her ruling, stated that the intent of the three men was clearly to intimidate Ms Nye by going to her home. 

Catrin Nye and Jamie Bartlett

Ms Nye and Mr Bartlett, who both stated to the court that they live together, gave their testimonies. Both were granted protective measures by the court to appear behind a screen to not see or be seen by the defendants. Ms Nye in her testimony, explained that her entire lifestyle had changed since the visits from the three men. Mr Bartlett stated that he was concerned as to the safety of his children. He was not cross examined by the defendants’ lawyers. 

The Defendants’ Lawyers

Initially, Kris, Jatinder and Sukh were represented by Duncan Lewis solicitors. Following cross examination of Ms Nye and Mr Bartlett, the defendants later dismissed the representation from Duncan Lewis. 

Without any legal representation, Kris, Jatinder and Sukh elected to seek a further adjournment. Judge Holdham insisted that the trial would not re-start from the beginning, but that it would continue to the final portions of the defendants giving their testimonies and the closing arguments from both sides. In that time of adjournment, Kris, Jatinder and Sukh were able to secure representation from Michael Phillips via the Christian Legal Centre. 

The CPS’ Argument

The CPS’ case was to assert that the three men were conducting an act of vengeance upon Catrin Nye. They alleged that the defendants were intent on intimidating Catrin Nye personally by going to her home, from the very beginning of their protests, which began in April 2023. The doorsteps were conducted several months later at the end of August and beginning of September 2024. 

The three men had sought a legal means of securing Ms Nye’s address through an agency, and proceeded to conduct surveillance. The three men stated this was in accordance with BBC guidelines to confirm the details in person. The prosecution stated that by conducting such surveillance, they were targeting Ms Nye where they could find her ‘alone and vulnerable’, away from her children and her partner, Jamie Bartlett (also a fellow witness brought by the Crown). The defendants refuted this characterisation. 

The CPS stated that Sukh, as the chief camera operator, did not care about Catrin Nye’s privacy, and that he deliberately wanted to make her location known publicly. Sukh refuted this claim and stated that he was very careful to not do this. 

All of the footage about the doorstep that had been intended to be used, had already been published on Lighthouse’s David vs Goliath site.

Final Verdict: 

Judge Holdham reached a guilty verdict based on the course of conduct. Sentencing will take place on the 2nd February.

Public Statement from the Defendants

The three men, Kris, Jatinder and Sukh, have stated,
We are very unhappy with the verdict, and fully intend on appealing in the Crown Court. We are very thankful for all the continual support from our Christian brothers and sisters at Lighthouse over the last year, especially from Paul, our brother in Christ and mentor. Thanks ultimately to the grace and protection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Related articles:

Mr Davie, we demand the resignation of Catrin Nye, Jamie Bartlett, Ravin Sampat and Natalie Truswell 11th Jan, 2026 – Victims of the BBC Granted First Financial Compensation relating to the BBC’s Deception-Filled Abomination ‘A Very British Cult’ 14th Jan, 2026 – Lighthouse Wednesday Update – Truth Under Trial, Faith Unmoved Legal Update: Appeal Made to Crown Court for Jatinder Kamra, Sukhraj Singh and Kristofer Deichler