Former Police Officer Arrested Outside Manchester Court in Harassment Case
A transgender activist who previously accused Father Ted co-writer Graham Linehan of harassment has been arrested outside court in connection with a separate case. Former police officer Lynsay Watson was detained by officers near Manchester Civil Justice Centre on February 12, 2026, with images of the arrest circulating widely online.
Background of Misconduct and Legal Challenges
Watson was dismissed from Leicestershire Police in October 2023 for gross misconduct after allegedly harassing a free speech campaigner and critic of gender ideology. The former officer had appeared at Manchester Civil Justice Centre for an oral permissions hearing regarding a judicial review of Cambridgeshire Police's decision not to prosecute Helen Joyce for misgendering trans activist Freda Wallace.
Following the hearing, Watson was arrested based on outstanding warrants for online harassment. This arrest connects to Watson's previous actions against Graham Linehan, whom Watson had reported to police over social media posts, leading to Linehan's arrest at Heathrow Airport in September 2025. Linehan later had the action against him dropped, though he was convicted in a separate case of criminal damage.
Multiple Harassment Allegations Surface
Watson is alleged to have harassed computer games writer and pro-Scottish independence campaigner Stuart Campbell, who operates the X account Wings Over Scotland. Campbell informed his 82,200 followers that Watson had been apprehended on suspicion of criminal harassment against him, after months of avoiding arrest warrants.
Campbell stated: "Wings got wind of it in advance, and we alerted Greater Manchester Police who went there and arrested him on an outstanding warrant from a complaint I made last year." Watson was subsequently questioned and released on bail.
Linehan's Response and Ongoing Conflict
Graham Linehan, 57, shared messages on his X account with 653,400 followers, stating: "Finally! This is the guy who got me arrested at the airport, finding out." He added further posts picturing Watson with the comment: "Hope it was worth it, pal."
Linehan, who relocated to Arizona last year to work on new comedy projects, has been a prominent gender-critical campaigner online for the past decade. His arrest at Heathrow in September 2025 occurred when armed police met his flight from Arizona, detaining him on suspicion of inciting violence related to three tweets.
Pattern of Online Harassment Revealed
During Watson's misconduct hearing, it was revealed that the former officer sent over 1,200 messages to former police officer Harry Miller over 18 months, describing him as a fascist and bigot, and labeling his campaign group Fair Cop as "domestic terrorists." The panel heard that Watson targeted Miller because his views on gender identity contradicted her own.
Force solicitor Liz Briggs told the panel that while Watson was entitled to disagree with Miller, as a police officer she must treat the public with respect and courtesy. The messages were described as "derogatory and abusive," "intentional, deliberate, targeted and planned."
Consequences and Public Trust Impact
Panel chair Kate Meynell, Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police, found that Watson's conduct amounted to gross misconduct, inevitably impacting the reputation of Leicestershire Police and policing generally. Meynell acknowledged Watson's "deeply held views on the subject" but stated the conduct "had a significant effect on the reputation of the force, policing generally and our public trust."
Watson admitted gross misconduct but denied breaching standards relating to honesty and integrity. The former officer claimed to be acting on behalf of the persecuted LGBTQ community and posting anonymously to gather evidence about unknown officers believed to be Fair Cop members.
Linehan's Legal Resolution and Continued Activism
In October 2025, Linehan was informed he faced no further police action regarding the Heathrow arrest. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case after review, with a spokesperson confirming: "Following careful review of a file submitted by the Metropolitan Police, we have decided that no further action should be taken."
Linehan stated he still aims to hold police accountable "for what is only the latest attempt to silence and suppress gender critical voices on behalf of dangerous and disturbed men," with support from the Free Speech Union.
The arrest highlights ongoing tensions between transgender activists and gender-critical campaigners, with legal actions and online harassment allegations continuing to surface in this divisive debate.
