John Lawson handed 50 free copies of his book to a chaplain at HM Prison Lewis (pictured below), only to receive an email two weeks later saying they would not be passed on to inmates.

The 50-year-old from the nearby town of Seaford, said: “My book, ‘If a Wicked Man’, is a true crime biography that contains the Gospel message, so that we can deliver the Gospel to readers who won’t usually pick up a Christian book.”

During the course of a decade, Mr Lawson has shared his testimony in more than 25 countries, visiting some of the world’s most challenging prisons in doing so.

He said: “I was quite shocked; I get many requests from prison chaplains for copies of my book. [Lewis] is the only prison where this has ever happened.”

The Prison Service said jail governors can exercise discretion is deciding which books are “suitable” for offenders, in order to “maintain good order”.

It also said: “If a book is deemed unsuitable or would risk creating disorder, Governors have the discretion to take the book out of circulation.”

In the past fortnight, copies of his book have been accepted into HM Prison La Moye in Jersey and HM Prison Wandsworth in south London.

A former gang enforcer, Mr Lawson, who became a Christian while in jail, said it was “essential” inmates at Lewis Prison heard the Gospel.

Click here to listen to Premier’s…

Ninety individuals with a flair for creating apps, building websites, using virtual reality technology and writing code are joining the Kingdom Code BUILD 2017 contest in Farringdon, central London.

Organiser, James Doc told Premier: “We encourage people to stay for the whole weekend; we provide space for them to get out an airbed or a sleeping bag if they want but some people will literally have their laptops open for the full 48 hours.”

Working in teams of four, participants have from 6pm on Friday 20th October until 6pm on Sunday October 22nd to create a working product which must tackle a problem set by one of two Christian charities.

Explaining how guests don’t have to be professionals, Mr Doc added: “We’ve got people who’ve been coding and developing for years; they are well beyond me in their technical ability but we’ve also got people who just want to learn…”

 In the third annual Kingdom Code BUILD event, Christians Against Poverty has requested digital tools to help staff reach and care for people struggling to make ends meet.

Meanwhile, Home for Good asked other participants to design a product to support their work finding new foster carers and adoptive parents for children.

Addressing the competitive element, Mr Doc continued: “We’ve got a prize for a…

Rev Chantal Noppen (pictured above with husband, Tony Harbottle-Noppen) told Premier that St Cuthbert’s in Sunderland had received a letter of complaint about Saturday evening’s Beer and Hymns event.

The team vicar of North Wearside parish said: “We have prayed about it, it’s not like we’re just deciding to throw all integrity and morals out of the window.

“I actually think if the person in question [who wrote the letter] came along, they might realise they may have misunderstood.”

Concerned that congregations are not as effective in engaging with their local communities as they were in the past, Rev Noppen has encouraged parishioners to “think outside the box” in reaching people reluctant to try church.

Rev Noppen went on to say: “Once you’ve been to a Beer and Hymns event, you realise that it’s not just about having a drink.

“It really is about doing church is a different way, in a kind of very low-key way, and it’s much more spiritual than people expect, often.”

The annual Christian arts festival, Greenbelt established the idea of Beer and Hymns several years ago and churches across the country have since replicated it.

Rev Noppen: “Churches are realising that people aren’t necessarily connecting with us totally as well as we would like on a Sunday morning but people are very happy to still go to the pub and meet…

Harry Melling was pushed to the ground and had his wallet taken, on the doorstep of his home in the Newtown area of Wigan.

The widower, who once served as a warden at St Mark’s Church in Newtown, said: “It was a shock. It unsettled me for quite a period of time and it has disturbed me.”

Details of the incident at 10pm on Thursday 12th October have only now been emerged, as police urge anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Sergeant Phil Housley, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “This was a horrific incident, in which a war veteran who served on submarines in WW2, was targeted and robbed in his own home.

“He had just enjoyed a visit from a friend before he was confronted by a man who pushed his way into his house and forcefully robbed him.”

The suspect has been described as 5ft 8in, wearing dark clothing and of medium build.

Recalling the events, Mr Melling said: “I had had a friend in the house. We had been having a drink and a chat and he left. I remember this fellow at the door and after that it was vague.

“However, although I would say that I was afraid at the time, I’m certainly not afraid now. I find that a bit remarkable but it has affected me.

“At 97, you have supposedly seen it all but this was definitely a new thing and I have had to try to overcome it.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 7124, 101 quoting…

Christian Action Research & Education (CARE) put on the P Word Conference in partnership with the Naked Truth Project and it took place at Belfast Bible College from 10am to 4pm.

Prominent church leaders and leading experts gathered to discuss, pray and tackle the issue of pornography.

There were presentations and pre-recorded contributions and delegates were offered practical tools to feel equipped to address pornography in their churches and communities.

There was also a prayer space, set up by 24-7 Prayer for those who wanted to intercede and pray for the issue.

CARE’s Churches Development Officer for Northern Ireland, Tim Houston, said: “Pornography has never been more accessible, affordable, anonymous or addictive.

“Pornography use is widespread in our communities, including in our Churches, and we need to address it due to the damaging impact it can have on those who watch it and those who are in the industry.

“Christians have a long reputation of standing up against harmful norms that have become commonplace in society today. This is another issue that we will not only speak out on, but partner with church leaders to equip them to talk about why we should tackle pornography addiction and pastor people through it.

“P Word resources the church to understand the social costs of pornography and gives leaders the tools needed to address the issue back in their churches and communities, leading to long term, positive change.”