Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been acquitted of harassing trans activist Sophia Brooks but was found guilty of damaging her phone at a London conference.
The 57-year-old five-time Bafta award winner faced charges at Westminster Magistrates Court for allegedly harassing the 18-year-old and causing damage to her phone worth £369. It was claimed that Linehan grabbed the woman’s phone and threw it across a street.
In September, the court heard that Linehan posted derogatory comments about the teenage trans woman on social media before tossing her phone into the street, calling her names like “a groomer,” “a disgusting incel,” and a “sissy-porn watching scumbag.”
The judge ruled on Tuesday that Linehan’s social media posts did not constitute harassment, but he was found guilty of criminal damage related to an incident at a festival called Battle of Ideas in October the previous year.
District Judge Briony Clarke stated that Linehan’s comments, though offensive, did not exceed being merely unattractive, annoying, or irritating. During the trial, Linehan claimed he had faced significant challenges from transgender activists due to his opinions on gender identity, believing that exposing their tactics was in the public interest.
Linehan mentioned that knocking the phone from Brooks’ hand was a reflex action to what he perceived as taunting. The court was informed that Brooks had been taking photos of conference attendees before confronting Linehan outside the venue, leading to a heated exchange.
Linehan, known for creating TV hits like “Father Ted,” “The IT Crowd,” and “Black Books,” has been vocal in his criticism of the trans-rights movement, attributing the backlash to his gender-critical views. Despite his successful career and personal struggles, Linehan has remained a controversial figure in recent years.