LONDON (AFP) - A London court on Tuesday cleared Emmy award-winning comedy writer Graham Linehan of harassing a transgender activist online but found him guilty of criminal damage to their mobile phone.

Linehan, who co-created the popular 1990s sitcom "Father Ted" but has more recently become well-known for his gender critical views, had been accused of sending Sophia Brooks "abusive and vindictive" messages on social media.

He was also charged with criminal damage after deliberately knocking a phone out of Brooks' hand as they filmed him on the sidelines of a London conference.

Ruling on the case, District Judge Briony Clarke said she was not convinced Linehan's conduct "was oppressive and unacceptable beyond merely unattractive, annoying or irritating."

Clarke also concluded Brooks was not "as alarmed and distressed as they portrayed themself to be."

But convicting Linehan of criminal damage, the judge ruled he was "angry and fed up" and did not use "reasonable force" when the phone was taken from Brooks.

Clarke fined him 500 pounds ($655) and ordered him to pay costs of 650 pounds and a statutory surcharge of 200 pounds.

The Irish writer, who also co-created the popular sitcoms "Black Books" and "The IT Crowd," became embroiled in a free speech row in Britain earlier this year over his antitransgender stance.

It followed his arrest at London's Heathrow Airport by armed police over accusations of inciting violence with his X posts insulting transgender people.

The arrest sparked a backlash and claims of state overreach, including from U.S. tech billionaire Elon Musk. But in October U.K. prosecutors said they would take "no further action" in that case.

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By Agence France-Presse

Source: Courthouse News Service