Father Ted co-creator says he has 'lost a great deal' as he denies harassing transgender woman

Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has pleaded not guilty to harassing a transgender woman and damaging her phone.

The Bafta-winning writer, who also came up with TV sitcoms The IT Crowd and Black Books, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday to deny the charges of harassing Sophia Brooks on social media and damaging her mobile in October. Linehan, 56, who created the three-season sitcom Father Ted in the 1990s with fellow Irish writer Arthur Mathews, said in a post on X in April that the allegations were related to an incident at the Battle of Ideas conference in London on 19 October.

Court documents show Linehan is charged with harassing the alleged victim, a transgender activist, by posting abusive comments about her on social media between 11 October and 27 October, and damaging her phone to the value of £369 on the day of the conference. Outside court after the short hearing, he wore a T-shirt with a picture of a Daily Telegraph front page with the headline 'Trans women are not women', and said: "For six years, ever since I began defending the rights of women and children against a dangerous ideology, I have faced harassment, abuse and threats.

"I've lost a great deal, but I am still here, and I will not waver in my resolve." Read more from Sky News:Green Party co-leader denies split over trans rightsThousands attend trans rights protests following Supreme Court ruling Deputy District Judge Louise Balmain told Linehan his trial would take place on 4 September this year at the same court. Linehan has become a strong vocal critic of the trans rights movement in recent years.

He was freed on bail with the condition not to contact the complainant directly or indirectly..