It has been revealed that the individual allegedly responsible for the arrest of UK gender-critical comedian Graham Linehan is a disgraced transgender former Leicestershire police officer who was fired from law enforcement over gross misconduct. Lynsay Watson, a trans-identifying male born as Alex Horwood, is believed to have submitted several of Linehan's social media posts to authorities, which resulted in his September 1 arrest at Heathrow airport, the Telegraph reported.
Linehan was taken into custody by five armed police officers over an April social media post, where he wrote on X that transgender males should not use women's-only restrooms, and added that women should "punch [them] in the balls” if trans-identified males go into women's only spaces such as locker rooms and bathrooms.
Linehan's shocking arrest has sparked concerns about free speech in the UK.
The Telegraph reported that an anonymous social media account believed to be linked to Watson had bragged in April about reporting Linehan's gender-critical posts, and called on the trans community to do the same. Watson was previously fired from the Leicestershire police department after he was found guilty of misconduct after sending a police colleague more than 1,200 messages, calling him a "Nazi," a "bigot," and a "wife-beater." The targeted officer, Harry Miller, had also been critical of gender ideology.
Additionally, Watson has been accused of targeting women's rights activists who advocate to safeguard female-only spaces. Court documents show that Watson reported to police several social media posts issued by author and activist Helen Joyce that were slightly critical of a transgender activist with whom she was on a panel with. Joyce, the author of Trans, a book critical of gender ideology, was then placed under criminal investigation for "harassment" over "malicious communications," according to court records.
"The police have swallowed trans ideology hook, line, and sinker, with the result that extremist trans activists have been able to deploy officers like a private militia to harass and silence anyone who stands up to them," Joyce told the paper.
Graham Linehan, who created the television show Father Ted, appeared in Court on Thursday for an unrelated case. Linehan is on trial in London on charges of harassment and criminal damage against a transgender male, who identifies as a woman. He has been accused of smashing militant trans activist Sophia Brooks' phone after he was aggressively confronted by Brooks at a 2023 conference.
Linehan was taken into custody by five armed police officers over an April social media post, where he wrote on X that transgender males should not use women's-only restrooms, and added that women should "punch [them] in the balls” if trans-identified males go into women's only spaces such as locker rooms and bathrooms.
Linehan's shocking arrest has sparked concerns about free speech in the UK.
The Telegraph reported that an anonymous social media account believed to be linked to Watson had bragged in April about reporting Linehan's gender-critical posts, and called on the trans community to do the same. Watson was previously fired from the Leicestershire police department after he was found guilty of misconduct after sending a police colleague more than 1,200 messages, calling him a "Nazi," a "bigot," and a "wife-beater." The targeted officer, Harry Miller, had also been critical of gender ideology.
Additionally, Watson has been accused of targeting women's rights activists who advocate to safeguard female-only spaces. Court documents show that Watson reported to police several social media posts issued by author and activist Helen Joyce that were slightly critical of a transgender activist with whom she was on a panel with. Joyce, the author of Trans, a book critical of gender ideology, was then placed under criminal investigation for "harassment" over "malicious communications," according to court records.
"The police have swallowed trans ideology hook, line, and sinker, with the result that extremist trans activists have been able to deploy officers like a private militia to harass and silence anyone who stands up to them," Joyce told the paper.
Graham Linehan, who created the television show Father Ted, appeared in Court on Thursday for an unrelated case. Linehan is on trial in London on charges of harassment and criminal damage against a transgender male, who identifies as a woman. He has been accused of smashing militant trans activist Sophia Brooks' phone after he was aggressively confronted by Brooks at a 2023 conference.
