A man’s guilty plea in a series of grotesque animal mutilations outside churches in England’s New Forest exposes what this case truly represents: spiritual warfare carried out openly and without shame.
As reported by the Daily Mail, 47-year-old Benjamin Lewis admitted to dumping decapitated animal remains, including a deer’s head and stolen lamb carcasses, outside multiple churches across Hampshire. He pleaded guilty to seven offenses, including five counts of religiously aggravated harassment, and admitted to displaying hostile messaging toward a religious group. These were not isolated acts of cruelty. The repeated targeting of Christian churches, the bloodshed and the deliberate use of sacrificial imagery make the intent unmistakable.
This is not countercultural behavior, misunderstood symbolism, or harmless rebellion. It is an assault on the ways of God. The desecration of church grounds and the use of animal sacrifice imagery echo the oldest expressions of defiance against God found throughout history.
Order Jonathan Cahn’s Newest Book, “The Avatar” on Amazon.com!
Scripture is clear about the nature of such acts: they are rooted in darkness that seeks to mock, intimidate and defile what is holy. Attempts to sanitize or rebrand Satanism as merely expressive or philosophical collapse under the weight of these actions.
The case also sits within a troubling pattern. Authorities have linked Lewis’ crimes to a broader series of ritualistic animal killings in the New Forest, including mutilated sheep, inverted crosses, pentagrams, candles, and remains left at historic churches and ancient sites.
This is a clear reminder that spiritual battles are not abstract concepts. They manifest in real acts of violence and intimidation. Our response should not be fear or confusion, but vigilance, prayer and a firm stand for truth as darkness continues to test the church’s resolve.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
