A Muslim convert accused of preaching sharia law was ordered to stand up for a judge who told him: "This is not a court of religion".

Ricardo McFarlane, 30, allegedly breached an ASBO that barred him from approaching members of the public "in order to promote sharia law" on 25 March last year.

McFarlane and a group of up to 20 other men are said to have set up a stall outside Topshop in Oxford Street and called for strict Islamic laws to be imposed across the UK.

He denies one count of breach of an ASBO and was due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court yesterday (TUE).

The bearded defendant, wearing a green and gold robe, told the court usher he would not stand for "any man" before the hearing began.