Man admits knifing Christchurch street preacher

A man has admitted stabbing a well-known Christchurch street preacher in the groin as he was speaking to a group of Christian followers in Cathedral Square.

The attack by Sheldon Dean Withington left lay preacher Edward Parry-Smith with punctured internal organs and severe blood loss requiring emergency surgery.

Withington, 32, faces up to 14 years in jail after pleading guilty in the Christchurch District Court yesterday to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He will also be sentenced on other charges, including assault and theft, when he reappears in court next month.

Withington approached Mr Parry-Smith, also known as Ted Parry-Smith, as he was preaching in the square on Friday evening, May 26, and began verbally abusing him.

A witness to the abuse, Andrew Knight, tried to talk to Withington but was told he was "from Satan's Church" and was going to get a "crack to the head". When Mr Parry-Smith intervened he was stabbed with a stolen 22cm steak knife.