@nickwallis: I am at Westminster Magistrate...

I am at Westminster Magistrates court sitting directly across the courtroom from Graham Linehan who is sitting in the dock, about to stand trial for harassment and damaging a camera. That is @sharrond62 in the photo who has arrived to support @Glinner

Linehan has confirmed his name and DOB. Court is discussing a bit of trial management atmo. This is going to be a two day trial with two witnesses for the prosecution (the complainant) and a police officer and five for the defence - three of whom can only appear tomorrow.

Judge has risen for 20 mins so CPS barrister can talk to the complainant. Sarah Vine KC is representing Linehan.

Anya Palmer is sitting on one of the rear benches. Linehan has now been told he can leave the dock and sit in court. Whether he'll have to go back in when the judge returns is not clear.

I seem to have a semi-decent mobile signal now but it was dropping out earlier. Will try to live tweet. Sadly I cannot be here tomorrow. Not sure if anyone else is live-tweeting, but the courtroom is packed with hacks.

The public gallery is dotted with GC activists and a few people who look like they might be supporting the complainant (Sophia Brooks). Looks like the @Telegraph is live-blogging this telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/0…

Usual disclaimer for live-tweeting applies - my tweets are summaries and/or characterisations of what is happening/being said. Nothing is a direct quote unless it is in "direct quotes".

J = judge
C = complainant AND/OR SB - Sophia Brooks (depending on how referred to in court)
D= Defendant AND/OR L = Linehan
SV = Sarah Vine KC for L
JFW = Julia Faure Walker for SB

I know I'm getting old, but I did think the judge (District Judge Briony Clarke) looked very young. She is! Turns out in 2017 she became the youngest woman ever to become a judge:

thetimes.com/uk/law/article…

Judge has returned. There are tech problems now with the CVP (the court remote access system).

Whilst we're waiting... judiciary.uk/in-conversatio…

Judge has risen whilst they try to sort the tech problems. This being a magistrates court there is no jury making a decision in this case.

Although we are eating up time a large part of the case which the judge was going to have to hear submissions on has now apparently been agreed between the parties, so it's pretty relaxed.

Linehan is back in the dock talking to Anya Palmer.

Thorin waits...

L sitting in the dock, arms folded. Nothing happening.

J is back in court. More trial management. SV has submitted a note on language used in court.

[Suspect we are going to have a discussion about pronoun use.]

J for the purposes of everyone in the public gallery - the Prosecution will address C according to affirmed gender and pronouns "she". D and D's counsel will refer to C as Brooks with sex-based pronouns. There will be no policing of language. This may cause offence...

... but if anyone in the public gallery gives audible reactions, interruptions on this or anything else in this it may case may lead to exclusion from the court.

P (prosecution JFW) on her feet. D faces two charges of harassment - contrary to 1997 Harassment Act in Oct 2024 and one count of criminal damage in Oct 2024. Not in dispute that D sent the tweets or threw the camera phone. SB was 17 when this happened at the LGB Alliance conf...

... some girls there released insect in the venue and the conference was stopped. There was no evidence SB was involved. L linked that event to her. L asked if Fred Wallace and "this guy" was there. [P being v careful to ensure she is putting any masc prons for SB "IN QUOTES"]

P says L's tweets were "oppressive and unacceptable" thereby crossing the threshold into harassment.

The purpose of L's posts was say us was not to relay events, express political opinion, critcise or solve any crime. These were not merely posts containing ideas which shock disturb or offend - they were verbally abusive and vindictive and showed L's deep dislike of SB.

P - One post said "this guy wearing Posy Parker merch" to try to get into events [P again emphasises L's pronoun use]. One Post said "does anyone know this man?"

P one of L's tweets asked if the police will take seriously this example of "domestic terrorism"
P when L called the people in the photo "men" he must have been referring to SB
P - L said he - again referring to SB in the masc - is a "deeply disturbed sociopath"

[P's opening speech has been interrupted by the battering in L's court headset dying. He can't hear v well behind the glass]

[battery not battering obvs]

P has agreed to virtually shout, as the headsets aren't working, but says this could be a problem when it comes to witnesses.

[Common sense has prevailed - L is being allowed out of the dock into the main courtroom]

P - I was just referring to what L said about "these scumbag grooming sociopathic sadists". L said "Tarquin or Sophie like all malignant narcissists"
P "Tarquin" is L's derogatory term for C

On 19 Oct L met SB for the first time in person o/s the Battle of Ideas conference. SB had been in the venue taking photos and vids with her phone. she was escored out of the building. 20 mins later L approached filming with his phone called SB a groomer and asking how many SB...

... had groomed. he also called her an incel.
Later SB called out L's name and asked why he'd called her a "domestic terrorist" At this point L could have explained why or ignored her, rather he responded in a way which is indicative of his extreme personal animosity...

He said "go away groomer, go away you disgusting incel" he called her a "sissyporn addicted scumbag"
SB said "why do you think it's acceptable to call teenagers domestic terrorists" - she was holding him to account. L "was angry and whacked the phone out of SB's hand." L was...

proud of what he'd done. L tweeted that he was proud to have grabbed his phone out of his hand and thrown it - he was pleased to have caused this damage to someone fromm the other side of the ideological divide.
L's posts continued...

P L said "was interesting to meet Tarquin today - absolute psycho". He later retweeted the tweet where he referred to SB as a sociopath with a photo of SB.
P also on 19 Oct - yet another abusive post about SB and someone SB was with. Said "couldn't hack it as a gay man, now...

... hanging around with a 17yo sociopath who thinks he's a girl"
P he must have meant SB - so he knew she was 17yo
P later he says "watch how Buffalo Bill uses a camera to hide his face"
P responded to another photo tweet saying "here he is defending Fred Wallace's pscyho mate...

... Tarquin." clearly another abusive reference to SB.
P in another tweet L refers to SB as "Fred Wallace' sociopath friend"
P on 22 Oct he said of SB "he likes to handle people and then complain about being touched himself"
P L said "why are you calling a man...

... with long hair 'her'"
P then L refers to "Fred's severely disturbed mate"
J where is this
P gives ref
P re Tarquin - L said in answer to a q "oh no... we named him that"

P - someone asked if it T was SB's real name and L said "no it's a reference to his poshness"

P L also wanted to get some info about SB. He tweeted - "if you know him and you want to stop him harassing people please get in touch"

P - under a post about sex harassment L asked "sorry - what woman mate? This is a porn addicted man, like you."

P - another user noted L had admitted throwing the phone of a young trans protestor across the road and was now stalking them online. L replied that Tarquin was a sociopathic misogynist who likes to harass women

P in another reply L said "he's been 17yo for a number of years" and has been harassing women at a conference and was also behind the insect attack at the LGB conference.
P C was not harassing women, she was filming at the conference and there is no evidence she had...

... any involvement in the insect attack.
P - L also called SB "a scumbag who harasses women" and "if you encounter Tarquin in the wild try to resist the urge to stick his cameras up his arse"
P SB felt alarm/distress.

P she did not engage with him online. This was not an argument between two people trading insults. L gave a prepped statement saying T had harassed him by aproaching him and filming him at close quarters. Says he tried to ignore him but C put the phone in his face.

P said it was a reaction to grab the phone. In his statement L also said he did not accept his tweets were harassment.
P for an offence of harassment (h) - it has to have happened more than once, it has to be conduct which is oppressive and unacceptable. L takes issue that...

.. his conduct was H.
P - it is expected L will raise a defence that his actions were about trying to stop or raise awareness of a crime and that it was reasonable.
P - J I have set out some authorities in the opening note, but I can leave them til the end of the case.

P the D does not accept the damage to the phone was by him. Nor that it was reckless.
P I call the first witness - SB
[someone goes to get SB who is sitting o/s court]

[SB enters court and goes to witness box. Wearing black trousers, blue work shirt. Has long dark hair and is wearing glasses. SB is affirmed. Asks to sit down. J says yes. He is quite posh.]

P - asks name "Sophia [Anne/Anthea?] Brooks"
P- when did you start using that name?
SB - about 2022 [I think]
P - want to ask you about Oct 2024 in QEII centre in London - were you aware of an LBG Alliance event taking place that day
SB I was yes

P - broadly speaking do you agree or disagree with their ideas
SB - disagree, broadly speaking
P - can you briefly explain what your and what LGB's stance is an were you disagree
SB - I believe the LGB alliance opposes my rights as a TG person
P - in particular?

SB - nothing in particular
P - did you go to Westminster on 11 Oct 2024
SB - yes
P - what time did you get to QEII vicinity
SB - I would have to check my witness statement (WS)
P - it's to your right - look at the middle of the first page - it says you arrived around...
SB 1700

... hours
P so 5pm
SB yes
P did you go inside.
SB no
P as of that moment had you heard of L
SB yes
P aware he was on twitter or X
SB yes
P any comms with L on any soc med platform
SB no
P any comms at any point at all ever
SB don't believe so

P did you see L at the QEII
SB - I don't believe so
P - as we will see from soc med posts there were reports of insects being released into the venue
SB no I had no prior knowledge of this
P have you seen police compilation of tweets by L
SB yes
[P takes him to them]

P is this what you provided to police
SB yes
P how did you become aware of them
SB sent to me by someone I don't remember, but that's how I found out
P when was that
SB roughly around 11 Oct

[takes him to a tweet]
P do you see there is an image of the QEII centre with a person waving a flag outside it
SB yes
P is that person you?
SB yes
P on 11 Oct
SB I think it was an alter image
J a what
SB an alternate [?] image
P taken on another occasion
SB yes

P see the post re people who came in with large bag of crickets or cockroaches that day
SB yes
P did you have anything to do with that
SB no
P look at the left of that post - is that an image of you
SB yes
P who posted it

SB At Glinner - belonging to Graham Linehan
P where did that image come from
SB to the best of my knowledge Feb 2023
P how many followers has Glinner
SB about 500k
P we see what L says "wasn't Fred Wallace present - wasn't this guy with him"
SB yes

P who is he referring to
SB Freda Wallace and me
P do you know FW
SB an acqaintance
P see the tweet views
SB yes
P what do you understand that to mean
SB around 10k people have viewed it

P Maria McLachlan notes the photo is two homophobes outside an LGB conference - do you know MM?
SB met her twice
P where
SB battle of ideas fest and one other occasion
P so who were the two homophobes referring to
SB me
P are you homophobic?
SB er no I'm a bisexual person

[P takes him to a long post from L]
P not going to read it all out - but it says listen met police, but bringing these three men in could save a lot of time for your officers - they've been harassing a lot of people
[P skips a bit]
P - L says you have tried to infiltrate...

... LWS events in disguise.
P have you done that
SB yes
P - L says will the met police take action on this "domestic terrorism" - some silly children "doing the bidding of very dangerous men"
P who is domestic terrorist here
SB me
P who are the v dangerous men
SB three unknowns

P - see L here asks how long before a woman is killed by one of these trans activists
SB yes
P - see post from L saysing "here is a recording of the man behind countless episodes of harassment... he is a deeply disturbed sociopath"
SB yes
P posted alongside an image of you
SB

... yes
P who did you understand the deeply disturbed sociopath to be
SB me
P how did you feel about that
SB alarmed and distressed
P expand
SB I was being called a DDS by a famous person with a lot of followers any of whom could have caused great harm to me

[P taking him to a q asked of L about being a bit softer on scumbag grooming homophobic sociopathic sadists?] - see it
SB yes
P who is SGHSS?
SB me
P have you ever gone by the name of Tarquin
SB no
P is it your birth name
SB no
P how did you get it
SB it is apparently to do...

... with my poshness
[said v poshly]
P who have you this name
SB Graham Linehan
P did you go to the battle of ideas
SB yes I bought a ticket
P who did you go with
SB freda wallace
P did you encounter Kate harris there?
SB yes
P who is she

SB something to do with LGB Alliance
P who were hosting the confy
SB yes
P was there an encounter
SB yes she stormed up to me in an aggressive manner
P what were you doing
SB taking pictures of the panellists from some distance away

P sitting or standing
SB sitting first then standing to get a better angle
P what happened
SB KH stormed up to me with a brochure for her event attempting to block my camera
P was anyone filming you
SB 5 or 6 people afterwards
P after?
SB she stormed up to me twice - one was...

... videod.
P had you encountered L
SB he was not present... I don't believe he was present
P so after the encounter with KH - who filmed first
SB I had a DSLR I was taking photos with - after KH stormed up to me people were filming me
P were you escorted out by security
SB yes

P had you assaulted or attempted to assault anyone
SB no
P what time were you escorted out
SB about 3.15
P so you are now outside the venue
SB yes
P this was at Church House in Gt College St in Westminster
SB yes
P what happened next

SB about 20 minutes later L crossed the street he was filming and called me a groomer and asked me how many kids I'd groomed.
P had you done anything towards him
SB no
P then what
SB he walked into the conference
P what else did he say if at all

SB I'd have to check my statement
P please do
SB "he called me an incel and stormed off"
P so that we can understand - what do you understand incel to mean
SB an involuntary celibate
P what gender
SB male
P what is an incel

SB someone who does not have the privilege of sexual intercourse with another.
P so where did L go
SB he went into the battle of ideas, sorry stormed into the battle of ideas
P was Freda Wallace with you

SB no she joined me later - she was inside when I was inside - when I was kicked out she joined me an hour later.
P so did you remain in the idea [sic] and take photos of the grounds and buildings
SB I took photos of the attendees none of which were L
P then you walked to Tufton

... St and took some photos there
SB yes
P fast forward a few hours - were you photographing and videoing people leaving the conference
SB yes
P L?
SB yes
P what happened
SB I asked him why he thought it was acceptable to call teenagers domestic terrorists online
P how did...

... he respond?
SB I believe he called me a groomer and told me to go away
P how did you feel about that
SB distressed as I am not a groomer
P what is a groomer
SB someone who takes advantage of someone's naivity sometimes sexually
P did you ask him why he called you a greoomer

SB yes
P what did he say
SB he called me a groomer again and a sissy-porn watching scumbag
P what's sissy-porn
SB where feminised men cross dress

P are you into sissy-porn or have you ever given any indication of being so online
SB no
P what did you say
SB you're the incel - you're divorced
P did you engage in any discussion about your ideological differences
SB no he just shouted abuse again

P how did L look
SB angry
P did you pose any physical threat to him
SB he grabbed my hand and forcefully ripped my phone out of it, then he took my phone behind my back and refused to give it to me
P what next
SB I demanded I get my phone back and after realising I wouldn't...

... relent he said "go and get your fucking phone" and threw it into the road.
[P wants to play some video, bringing some technical jeopardy into proceedings. Amazing how regularly av f***s up in the courts. It shouldn't be that difficult nowadays]

[Looks like this might work. It is av video taken by SB of people walking out of the conference including Maya Forstater]
[SB says "Graham Graham do you mind explaining why you called me a domestic terrorist" L says "Go away groomer - go away you disgusting incel"]

[We go to a later video - it is dark. SB approaches L and goads him again. L is filming SB. L says SB has been filming people all day and is a sissy-porn addicted scumbag and walks off "Bye Graham!" shouts SB]
[Cut to another video take by SB - he approaches L and says...

... "why do you think it's acceptable to call teenagers domestic terrorists" L looks up sees its him and reaches toward the camera which goes dark there is a voice saying "Oi! Oi!" then the video stops]

P takes him to police photos of the damage to SB's phone. SB describes the damage - large scratch to top and bottom.

P how was the damage caused
SB by L throwing it into the road
P takes him to a repair estimate from Apple - what's the estimated amount?
SB £369
P so that's the repair cost
SB yes

P still at BoI conference - did you encounter Julie Bindel that day
SB I don't know what she looks like, sorry.

[it's v hot in here - water has been distributed to lawyers]

P takes him to the "couldn't hack it as a gay man" tweet. Does that image show you and Freda Wallace?
SB yes
P so who is the gay man
SB Freda
P who is the 17yo sociopath to be
SB me

[P takes him to a post of L's about SB/Tarq's alleged sock accounts]
SB what's a sock
P disposable twitter acc
SB how did you feel about being described as a sociopath
P alarmed and distressed
[audible giggles from the public gallery]

[P takes him to the L tweet about SB's studies and asking people if he knew him to get in touch.]
P how did you feel about that
SB alarmed and distressed
[P takes SB to L's tweet about SB handling people]
P had you handled anyone that day
SB no

[P takes him to tweet from Julie Bindel - "look at this utter bellend... harassing women, including me " L says "I'm quite proud of the fact I grabbed his phone and threw it across the road"]
P who was that referring to
SB me

[P takes him to L post of footage in Westminster - person in background and dark outer clothing]
P see that person?
SB yes that's me
P - L says "he's Fred's severely disturbed mate" - who is that refering to
SB me

[P takes him to Tarquin post]
P what does it mean
SB that Mr L and @PosyParker have named me Tarquin

[P takes him to L tweet alleging SB is porn-addicted]
P are you a porn-addict
SB no
P have you ever given than impression?
SB no

P how did you feel about L trying to find out where you were or if they knew you?
SB alarmed and distressed

[P goes to L tweet saying if you encounter T in the wild try to resist the urge to stick his camera up his arse - he's trying to provoke a reaction her can report to the police]
P was that what you were trying to do
SB no
P what were you trying to do
SB Freda Wallace runs a...

... blog and I was trying to get photos and footage for that.
[P takes him to tweet (not by L) of redacted image of SB's driving licence]
SB provisional driving licence
P were you using Sophia on your DL at that stage
SB yes

P how did these posts make you feel
SB worried for my own safety
P why
SB a person who was famous and is famous was posting pictures of me and calling me a sociopath

[We have had a 10 minute break SV for L]
SV we have heard you were alarmed and distressed many times
SB yes
SV on each occasion
SB yes
SV were you alarmed and distressed by L referring to you in the masculine
SB rude not a&d
SV just rude
Sb yes

SV tell us what your transactivism involves
SB what specifically
SV what does that mean for you
SB mostly just videography
SV for what purposes
SB for others who want to make a blog post or something
SV how does that work - what do you record
SB protests and demos

SV what was the protest or demo at the battle of ideas
SB I consider it a demo
SV it was a conference
SB can I share my idea
SV sure
SB all the people speaking have the same ideas - it's not a debate - it's a demo - just indoors

[SV is quite posh too - there's a bit of a posh off going on here]
SV was it a hate fest
SB not necessarily
SV you called it that
SB it had people with bigoted views in it