Comedy writer Graham Linehan has had his conviction for damaging a transgender activist’s mobile phone overturned following an appeal at Southwark Crown Court. Linehan was originally found guilty of criminal damage after a confrontation with Sophia Brooks outside a conference in Westminster on 19 October 2024. Mrs Justice Amanda Tipples ruled that the conviction should be overturned, saying that the court could not be sure Linehan caused the damage to Ms Brooks’ phone.
Ms Brooks, who was 17 at the time, had approached Linehan to record him, seeking an apology for his social media posts where he had called her a “domestic terrorist”. Linehan had previously been cleared of harassing Ms Brooks with a series of social media posts before and after the incident. The appeal decision marks a significant legal victory for Linehan, who has been a vocal critic of transgender activism.
The case has drawn widespread attention, highlighting the tensions between free speech and transgender rights. Linehan's legal team argued that the original conviction was based on insufficient evidence, and the appeal court agreed. The ruling underscores the importance of clear proof in criminal damage cases.
