A Toronto street preacher who confronts the public about “sinful” lifestyle choices believes he was the victim of a hate crime when a man sucker punched him last week near Yonge and Dundas streets.

Erik Fountas, 40, has been preaching at the bustling intersection for the last three years and says he’s routinely accosted for his fundamentalist Christian beliefs. “I get spat on and have things thrown at me almost every time I go out,” he told CityNews.ca.

But last Thursday the animosity escalated. Fountas says he was having a verbal exchange about sin with a group of young men when he was suddenly walloped by a blind-sided punch that landed him in hospital with a broken cheekbone.

“It felt like a car hit me,” he described. “It was a sucker punch … It was somebody who was not involved in the conversation.”

“(I was attacked ) because of what I said and what I stand for, which is my religious conviction.”

“If an Islamic preacher got attacked and sent to the hospital, that would be an immediate story.”

“As I was waiting for the police, there was a young lady who said, ‘you know I don’t agree with a lot of what you’re saying but I find it terrible that for your beliefs you got assaulted like this.’ ”

Fountas also believes if he was carrying a Qur’an, rather than a bible, the attack would have garnered more attention. “Anything can be said against the bible,” he says. “If an Islamic preacher got attacked and sent to hospital, that would be an immediate story.”

Toronto police tweeted about the incident, saying they are seeking a suspect described as a tall white male with a teardrop tattoo under his right eye.

He remains at large.

Const. Victor Kwong says the case is being treated as an assault, and it’s up to the Crown to add the ‘hate crime’ label if it’s warranted by the evidence. “We cannot officially give it that label,” Kwong said.

ASSAULT:

Dundas St + Yonge St

-Man punched in face

-Bleeding

-Tall white man with teardrop tattoo under right eye fleeing

^dh — Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) April 7, 2016

Fountas has gained a measure of local notoriety for berating passers-by about their lifestyle choices, telling them that their homosexuality, promiscuity and drug and alcohol use are assuring their eternal damnation.

He’s shown up to spout his views at events like the Pride Parade, and Toronto Zombie Walk (video below).

“I often say to people ‘freedom of speech is there because it protects unpopular speech.’

He realizes his views are unpopular, but maintains they should be protected.

“I often say to people ‘freedom of speech is there because it protects unpopular speech.’ I need freedom of speech because what I’m saying is not popular. I’m going against the grain.”

He admits he was rattled by the assault, but says he won’t tone down his controversial approach.

“I can’t change it,” he says. “I’m not hating anyone, but I’m hating sin, which I believe, ultimately, is a choice.”

Undeterred, Fountas was back at Yonge and Dundas on Thursday — a week after the attack.

“Captain Jesus can set the captives free,” his amplified voice echoed in the heart of downtown Toronto. “You want to get Captain Jesus on your ship, not Captain Morgan.”

When a young man thrusts a condom in his face, telling him not to reproduce, he responds: “The Bible says be fruitful and multiply. I’m not really against condoms, but I don’t think condoms will save you from condemnation.”

“I encourage whatever response they have verbally,” he says of the many tense interactions with the public. “But it’s the physical that I get and I don’t appreciate it.”

Later that night, he was warning swarms of young concertgoers about the sins of the flesh outside the Rihanna show at the Air Canada Centre.

As for the person who punched him?

“I’m taught to forgive and pray for that young man’s best,” he maintains. “ And that’s what I’m doing, but it’s not an easy situation.”