TL;DR
• Graham Linehan admitted in court to grabbing and throwing trans teen Sophia Brooks’ phone
• He was charged with criminal damage and harassment after the Westminster confrontation
• Prosecutors say he later bragged online about the incident
• Defense witnesses misgendered Brooks in court and described her behavior as “menacing”
• Case raises concerns over harassment and treatment of trans people in public debate
Courtroom Drama as Linehan Admits to Tossing Trans Teen’s Phone
British sitcom writer-turned-professional-anti-trans-keyboard-warrior Graham Linehan found himself in the real-life drama spotlight this week — and no, it wasn’t a reboot of Father Ted. The 57-year-old admitted in court that, yes, he did grab 18-year-old trans teenager Sophia Brooks’ phone and tossed it across the street during a heated showdown outside the Battle of Ideas conference in Westminster.
Linehan, who has made a second career out of ranting about trans people online, is facing criminal damage and harassment charges over the October 19, 2024 incident. The phone — valued at £369 — went flying after what he claims was a moment of adrenaline. “I didn’t slam it, I just skimmed it,” he told the court, adding, “as soon as I did it, I thought ‘that was a mistake.’” Honey, when “instinct” leads you to projectile-launch a teenager’s property, something is definitely not instincting the way it should.
What set off this chaotic curbside clash? Brooks confronted Linehan, asking why he thinks “it is acceptable to call teenagers domestic terrorists.” According to testimony, Linehan fired back with a cocktail of insults that would make even the most unhinged Reddit troll take notes — calling her a “groomer,” “disgusting incel,” and “sissy-porn watching scumbag.” Brooks reportedly shot back with “You’re the incel, you’re divorced,” which honestly… that one probably landed harder than the phone.
Prosecutors Say Linehan Bragged About the Toss
Prosecutor Julia Faure Walker didn’t hold back, telling the court that Linehan practically celebrated the moment, bragging days later online: “I am quite proud. I grabbed his phone and threw it across the road.” The prosecution argued this wasn’t a one-off tantrum — it was part of a pattern of “oppressive and unacceptable” posts targeting Brooks, crossing the threshold into harassment.
A video shown in court confirmed the phone-snatching moment, with Linehan unable to explain why he didn’t simply give the device back. Returning property isn’t “surrender,” according to him — so apparently, the logical choice was to yeet it.
Defense Witnesses Misgender Teen — Repeatedly
The defense rolled out a trio of gender-critical regulars: LGB Alliance co-founder Katherine Harris, journalist Julie Bindel, and Sex Matters campaigner Fiona McAnena — because of course they did. All three misgendered Brooks throughout their testimony, referring to her as “he/him,” and painted her as some kind of trans Bond villain with a camera.
Harris described Brooks’ behavior inside the event as “intimidatory,” adding that her filming “felt intrusive and aggressive.” She claimed Brooks wanted “to get all of us in his power through her camera,” which must be a new superpower no one told the LGBTQ community about. If recording bigots in public is now an act of domination, a whole lot of queer teens are apparently running the world.
Bindel took it further, saying Brooks was “menacing” and got too close to Linehan outside, alleging “Graham was trying to get her to stop pushing the camera in his face.” McAnena called the teen’s presence a “massive distraction,” though prosecutors challenged that, saying it had little actual impact on the event.
This wasn’t just a petty sidewalk scuffle — it was a snapshot of the hostility trans people, especially trans youth, face when they dare to confront misinformation and abuse. A grown man with a platform, fans, and a media history responded to a teenage girl’s criticism by hurling slurs — and her phone.
The courtroom misgendering by witnesses shows how refusal to respect a trans person’s identity often goes hand-in-hand with dismissing their rights. This case is a reminder: when powerful adults publicly target and mock young trans people, it sends a message to others that bullying them is acceptable. It isn’t.
Trans teens deserve to be safe in public spaces — including at political debates — without risking humiliation, harassment, or having their property turned into a frisbee of rage.
The trial continues, and the LGBTQ community will be watching closely. Because if a teenager challenging bigotry leads to courtroom drama instead of accountability, what message does that send to every young trans person who dares to speak up?