Viraj imprisons himself in the Manchester Church and doesn’t step a foot outside. He lives in the vestry and forms a bond with Father John and his family. No one knows how long he will stay there.

A team of supporters form the Viraj Mendis Defence Campaign and watch over him 24 hours a day, every day.

The media descends to cover the story starting a culture war that will directly challenge Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s authority.

Presenter: Father Azariah France-Williams. Producer: Jen Dale. Sound design: Kasel Kundola. Online producer: Rachael Smith. Executive producer: Ciaran Tracey. Additional sound recording by Seb Rabas, Graham Kirk and Jan Seebeck. Original material recorded and licensed by Big City Nights. Executive editor: Andrew Bowman. Commissioning editor: Alistair Miskin.

Photograph of Viraj Mendis: Paul Mattsson. Audio from VMDC campaign video: Revolutionary Communist Group.