A church-going wife who banned a gay man and his ITV producer partner from buying her £650,000 Surrey home has hit back in the row and insisted they are just sticking to their beliefs.
Luke Whitehouse and Lachlan Mantell were stunned when they were told that they could not buy the three-bedroom home because the Christian owners didn't want to sell to 'two men in a partnership.'
When they tried to arrange a viewing through internet estate agents Purplebricks, they were refused and sent astonishing references to fire and brimstone Bible passages by the couple.
The vendors, builder Luke Main, 33, and his wife, former Cambridge University medical physicist Dr Joanna Brunker, 34, refused to let Luke and his partner even view the house, let alone buy it, because they were gay.
They cited passages from the Bible and said they could not sell the house to 'two men in a partnership.'
But Dr Brunker hit back today, saying: 'We would not sell our home to two men in a partnership. We're practising Christians and are sticking to our beliefs and haven't done anything wrong.'
Her husband added: 'We're not ashamed of what we said in any way'.
Luke Whitehouse and his partner Lachlan Mantell (pictured) were told they couldn't view a property that they had seen because the owners didn't want to sell to a gay couple
Luke Main (left), 33, a builder, and his wife, ex-Cambridge University medical physicist Dr Joanna Brunker (right) said they were against selling their home to 'two men in a partnership'
The Christian couple's property (pictured) was advertised with a guide price of £650,000
Purplebricks has removed the ad from their site, telling the Mains that their message to Luke and his partner was 'completely opposed' to the firm's values.
Recalling how the row unfolded, fuming Luke, 34, told MailOnline: 'Initially for the first 10 seconds I laughed. I thought it was a joke.
'But then I was upset and angry and I had a cry on the phone to my mum. Homophobia still exists, it is still out there. I did not see it coming. I was blindsided by it.'
Luke and Lachlan, 37 - who have been together for eight years - planned to view the house in Surrey last week.
When they asked for a viewing, the Mains messaged them back saying: 'Would you mind telling us a bit about your position and circumstances when you have a moment please?'.
Lachlan happily replied telling them a little about why they liked the area, adding: 'I'm a 37-year-old TV producer for ITV and Luke is a 33-year-old business owner in education.'
But the Christian couple's response stunned them: It read: 'Dear Lachlan and Luke, thank you for sharing your circumstances with us.
'We're sorry if we seem intrusive, but we just want to make clear that we would be unwilling for two men in a partnership to view or buy our house.
'As it is contrary to the gracious teaching in God's Word, the Holy Bible, e.g Romans 1:24-28 and Jude 7 (King James Version). With regards'
Luke, 34, and his partner Lachlan, 37 - who have been together for eight years - told MailOnline that they were stunned that they had been prevented from viewing the property
The gay couple spotted the ad for the three bedroom semi detached property on Rightmove
Messages sent between Luke and Lachlan to the Christian couple sent through the Purplebricks website show how they had tried to set up a date and time to visit the property
The Christians asked Luke and Lachlan to explain their circumstances. But when it became clear that they are in a same-sex relationship, the booking was cancelled by the homeowners
The first Bible passage cited reads: 'Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
'They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
'Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.
'In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
'Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.'
Purplebricks informed Mr Main and his wife of their decision to no longer list the property
The second reads: 'Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.'
Luke reported it to the online estate agents who were selling it via Rightmove.
They have now decided to cease selling the property saying the comments from the owners are against its 'views and values.'
A Purplebricks spokesperson told them: 'Thanks for sharing this message Lachlan and we're so sorry you've had this experience.
'This stance is completely opposed to our views and values. We'll refund this seller's fee as Purplebricks no longer wish to list it.'
Luke and Lachlan - originally from Adelaide, Australia are desperate to get their own place after being
