Writer denies two charges

Graham Linehan appeared in court today charged with harassment and criminal damage against a transgender teenager.

Westminster Magistrates' Court was told the 57-year-old allegedly used social media to ‘relentlessly' publish offensive posts about 18-year-old activist Sophia Brook included calling her a ‘deeply disturbed sociopath’  and a ‘domestic terrorist’, which prosecutors claim crossed the threshold into harassment.

They also claim he ‘deliberately whacked’ Ms Brooks' phone out of her hand while she was filming herself challenging him over his tweets at the Battle of Ideas conference in London in October last year. The court was shown a video of the encounter.

Linehan has pleaded not guilty to the two charges and the court is expected to hear his defence tomorrow.

This trial is not connected to the allegations that led to the Father Ted co-writer's arrest at Heathrow Airport on Monday over other tweets.

He arrived in court wearing a sandwich board saying: 'Keep men out of women's sports' written over the trans flag.

Published: 4 Sep 2025