Graham Linehan cleared of harassing trans activist but guilty of damaging phone

Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan was cleared of harassing a transgender activist on social media but was found guilty of damaging her phone.

Mr Linehan “deliberately took away” a young trans woman’s phone and threw it onto the road outside a conference last October, his case was told in September.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court also heard the Irish comedy writer posted “brutal” abusive comments about Sophia Brooks on social media.

On Tuesday the judge said Mr Linehan’s social media posts did not amount to harassment but he was guilty of criminal damage in relation to the phone. He denied both charges.

During his trial, Mr Linehan told the court he believed it was in the public interest to expose the tactics of trans activists and that ringing the phone was a “reflex response”.

She said her life was made “hell” by trans activists and journalists because of their views on gender identity.

Ms. Brooks, who was 18 at the time, is a transgender woman who was born biologically male.