Sarah Jane Baker, a trans-identified convicted felon, has been cleared of recent charges after a court ruled that the statements Baker made at London Pride were not intended to incite violence.
54-year-old Baker was arrested in July after telling a crowd while draped in a trans flag and waving an Antifa flag, "If you see a TERF, punch them in the f*cking face."
According to the Evening Standard, Baker told the City of London Court magistrates court that he was not intending to incite violence, but rather to make news with it.
Baker was found not guilty of encouraging the commission of a criminal offense.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram expressed doubt about Baker’s intentions behind the words, noting that he described himself as an "idiot."
"I have a doubt," he said. "I think it’s also possible you are just an idiot - in fact you said it yourself - who was trying to get attention to your cause, that you didn’t intend for people to do it.
"But you said it because you wanted the publicity for your cause."
Baker broke down in tears while giving evidence in the courtroom and verbally attacked the "dark forces" within the government.
He insisted he didn’t intend for anyone to get hurt as a result of the July speech, telling the prosecutor, "I don’t have the power you seem to think I have."
"I was just being funny," Baker said. " didn’t mean it, I didn’t want no one to be beaten up because of some rubbish that comes out of my mouth. I just wanted to get attention for some of the causes I believe in."
"I wanted to get on the front page of the Daily Mail," Baker added.
"My job is to get on front page of the paper, to make sure the public know Trans people exist. Not just that we are here but that we need support."
Following Baker’s comments in July, a person reported Baker, but Met police said that they wouldn’t pursue the case because the comments were allowed under free speech laws.
But after receiving more complaints, Met police decided to open reopen the investigation, with a spokesman saying at the time, "We are aware of a video filmed in Westminster on Saturday, 8 July showing a speaker making remarks during the Trans Pride event. We have received a number of reports in relation to the video. The case was initially closed with no further action."
"This has been reviewed and the crime report has been re-opened. Enquiries remain ongoing."
Baker was later arrested, saying that the comments were "not my finest moment" and apologizing to officers.
"I’m really sorry that I said that."
In August, Baker began going on a hunger strike over being held in a men’s prison instead of a women’s prison.
During evidence, Baker claimed he doesn’t hate TERFs, which stands for Trans-Exclusionary radical feminist, but added that "they want the Trans gender community destroyed."
"I can get on the front page of the Daily Mail and ram the transgender agenda down their throats so they choke on it."
Baker will reportedly not be released after the verdict, but instead will have to wait for a parole hearing, which is not expected to take place until March of next year.
Baker previously served 30 years of a life sentence on charges of kidnap, torture, and attempted murder.
The victim, the brother of Baker’s stepmother, spoke out after Baker’s arrest, calling him a "dangerous, violent individual."
Darren Sheridan, who was attacked by Baker as a teen, said he was savagely beaten and tormented by Baker and Baker’s brother over a 24-hour period.
"I think it is extreme to have those kind of views. I know she has anger issues but there's still no right to say 'punch somebody in the face."
While in prison, Baker cut off his own testicles in a bid for the prison to give him estrogen, and was convicted while in prison of attempted murder of another prisoner.
