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Eddie Izzard reveals years of transgender abuse to court Eddie Izzard reveals years of transgender abuse to court Eddie Izzard reveals years of transgender abuse to court
(3 days later)
Comedian Eddie Izzard defended himself against a man who shouted homophobic abuse at him as a stand against “thousands of years of transgender people being aggressively attacked”, a court has heard.Comedian Eddie Izzard defended himself against a man who shouted homophobic abuse at him as a stand against “thousands of years of transgender people being aggressively attacked”, a court has heard.
Jamie Penny threatened to “do” the 54-year-old’s house after an altercation in Pimlico, central London.Jamie Penny threatened to “do” the 54-year-old’s house after an altercation in Pimlico, central London.
A month later Penny, 24, shouted to Izzard that he was a “fucking poofter” after seeing him in a street nearby.A month later Penny, 24, shouted to Izzard that he was a “fucking poofter” after seeing him in a street nearby.
Penny, who is autistic, was found guilty of two counts of using threatening and abusive words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress. He also admitted damaging a police cell after he was arrested.Penny, who is autistic, was found guilty of two counts of using threatening and abusive words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress. He also admitted damaging a police cell after he was arrested.
Giving evidence at the trial, Izzard said he stood up to him and swore back because he had faced years of abuse for being a transgender man.Giving evidence at the trial, Izzard said he stood up to him and swore back because he had faced years of abuse for being a transgender man.
He told Hammersmith magistrates court: “It is something I do as a transgender man. Over years people have said very nasty things to me.He told Hammersmith magistrates court: “It is something I do as a transgender man. Over years people have said very nasty things to me.
“I prefer to stand my ground. I do stand up for my rights and other people’s rights.”“I prefer to stand my ground. I do stand up for my rights and other people’s rights.”
The court heard that on 3 April Izzard had been moving bags by his vintage car outside his Pimlico home when he heard an altercation at a nearby pub, before two men approached him.The court heard that on 3 April Izzard had been moving bags by his vintage car outside his Pimlico home when he heard an altercation at a nearby pub, before two men approached him.
Izzard told the court one suddenly leaned close to his face and told him: “You should give me a ride in your car.”Izzard told the court one suddenly leaned close to his face and told him: “You should give me a ride in your car.”
The man was aggressive so Izzard said he told him he would “never have a ride in my car”, before a second man, Penny, told him: “Izzard, we are going to do your house when you are away.”The man was aggressive so Izzard said he told him he would “never have a ride in my car”, before a second man, Penny, told him: “Izzard, we are going to do your house when you are away.”
The comedian told the court: “It was totally aggressive. It had gone up into a verbal attack. He was walking away but shouting aggressively at me.” He told the court the incident had made him feel “very edgy”, and that he shouted back at him, telling him he was a “fucking idiot” and to “fuck off”.The comedian told the court: “It was totally aggressive. It had gone up into a verbal attack. He was walking away but shouting aggressively at me.” He told the court the incident had made him feel “very edgy”, and that he shouted back at him, telling him he was a “fucking idiot” and to “fuck off”.
Izzard said: “I was thrown because it had escalated. For hundreds of thousands of years transgender people have been aggressively attacked.Izzard said: “I was thrown because it had escalated. For hundreds of thousands of years transgender people have been aggressively attacked.
“I just thought, it is not going to happen – I am going to attack back with words.”“I just thought, it is not going to happen – I am going to attack back with words.”
The court heard that a month later, on 4 May, Izzard was walking near Victoria station towards his house when he heard someone shout, “you’re a fucking poofter” from the other side of the road.The court heard that a month later, on 4 May, Izzard was walking near Victoria station towards his house when he heard someone shout, “you’re a fucking poofter” from the other side of the road.
Asked if he recognised the man as Penny, Izzard said: “I knew it was the same guy who had shouted abuse at me, I am 100% sure.”Asked if he recognised the man as Penny, Izzard said: “I knew it was the same guy who had shouted abuse at me, I am 100% sure.”
Izzard told the court he hurled abuse back at him, saying: “I don’t run and hide, I stand my ground.”Izzard told the court he hurled abuse back at him, saying: “I don’t run and hide, I stand my ground.”
Izzard told magistrates: “I am tough, I have run marathons, I wanted to stand up for myself otherwise you become a victim.”Izzard told magistrates: “I am tough, I have run marathons, I wanted to stand up for myself otherwise you become a victim.”
He also told the court that he had been given Penny’s name by people at the pub near where he had first been abused, but had only decided to tell police after the second incident.He also told the court that he had been given Penny’s name by people at the pub near where he had first been abused, but had only decided to tell police after the second incident.
Under questioning, Penny said it was his friend who had threatened to “do” over Izzard’s house – and that the comedian had sneered at the pair, “talking to us like we are nothing”.Under questioning, Penny said it was his friend who had threatened to “do” over Izzard’s house – and that the comedian had sneered at the pair, “talking to us like we are nothing”.
He said he did not even know Izzard at first, only looking him up online later after his friend told him he was a celebrity.He said he did not even know Izzard at first, only looking him up online later after his friend told him he was a celebrity.
On the second occasion, he said he had seen Izzard harassing a black man driving a Bentley, claiming the comedian had looked intoxicated, and had told him to leave the man alone before telling him to “go to hell”, denying he had called him a “poofter”.On the second occasion, he said he had seen Izzard harassing a black man driving a Bentley, claiming the comedian had looked intoxicated, and had told him to leave the man alone before telling him to “go to hell”, denying he had called him a “poofter”.
And when Izzard told the court about the homophobic abuse, Penny said: “You’re not gay, why would I shout homophobic abuse at you if you’re not gay?” before blowing him a kiss from the dock.And when Izzard told the court about the homophobic abuse, Penny said: “You’re not gay, why would I shout homophobic abuse at you if you’re not gay?” before blowing him a kiss from the dock.
Magistrates said Penny, who the court heard has previous convictions for assault and possession of cannabis, would be given a restraining order and have to pay costs and compensation.Magistrates said Penny, who the court heard has previous convictions for assault and possession of cannabis, would be given a restraining order and have to pay costs and compensation.
He was also ordered not to contact Izzard. Penny was bailed until 30 November when he will be sentenced at Westminster magistrates court.He was also ordered not to contact Izzard. Penny was bailed until 30 November when he will be sentenced at Westminster magistrates court.