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

Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been cleared of harassing a trans activist on social media but convicted of damaging her phone.

Mr Linehan "deliberately whacked" a teenage trans woman's phone out of her hand and threw it in a road outside a conference last October, his trial was told in September.

Westminster Magistrates' Court also heard that the Irish comedy writer "relentlessly" posted 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 that 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 exposing the tactics of trans activists was in the public interest, and that knocking the phone was a "reflex response".

He said his life had been "made hell" by transgender activists and journalists because of his views about gender identity.

Ms Brooks, who was 18 at the time, is a trans woman who was born a biological male.