Graham Linehan's conviction for damaging transgender activist's phone overturned

Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has had his conviction for damaging a transgender activist's phone overturned.

The writer was involved in a confrontation with Sophia Brooks outside the Battle Of Ideas conference in Westminster on 19 October 2024.

The 57-year-old was cleared of harassment against Brooks in November, but found guilty of criminal damage.

However, a judge overturned the conviction on Friday after a two-day hearing at London's Southwark Crown Court.

Mrs Justice Amanda Tipples said she couldn't be sure the damage to the phone was caused by Mr Linehan.

She explained there was no evidence showing the condition of the handset immediately before the incident or after it.

The judge said Ms Brooks' initial report had also made no mention of any phone damage, and only referred to the harassment claim.

Linehan - known for shows including Father Ted, The IT Crowd and Black Books - smiled and turned to his supporters in the public gallery when the verdict was revealed.

Speaking afterwards, he said the "case should never have got to court" and accused police of failing to "properly and fairly investigate".

Linehan said there was a "troubling pattern" of police believing trans-rights activists "even when there has been overwhelming evidence that complaints have been made against gender critical campaigners in bad faith".

"I have suffered greatly in my fight to protect women and children from what I believe to be a dangerous ideology," he added.

The verdict came after the court was shown video from the phone in the run-up to the incident.

Ms Brooks, a trans woman - who was 17 at the time, approaches Linehan and asks: "Why do you think it is acceptable to call teenagers domestic terrorists?"

Linehan is heard calling her a "sissy porn-watching scumbag," a "groomer" and a "disgusting incel" - to which she responds: "You're the incel, you're divorced."

Another clip appears to show Linehan gabbing or slapping the phone out of her hands.

Linehan's lawyer, Sarah Vine KC, told the court Ms Brooks was "misusing the justice system" and was "determined" to get the writer convicted due to his anti-trans activism and high profile.

Ms Brooks was not in court for Friday's verdict.

During the November trial, the prosecution addressed the complainant by their "affirmed gender name", while Linehan maintained the "complainant is male".

The judge in that case called Linehan's social media posts directed at her "deeply unpleasant, insulting and even unnecessary" but said they weren't "oppressive or unacceptable".

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Prosecutors also dropped a criminal probe into Linehan last year after the Metropolitan Police said it would stop investigating "non-crime hate incidents".

It came after armed police arrested him on suspicion of inciting violence with his posts when he landed at Heathrow from his home in the US.

Linehan said he had to go to A&E after his blood pressure reached "stroke territory" during questioning and the arrest was widely criticised.

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