A TRANSGENDER hate crime court case centring on a Leigh man has thrown out by a judge.

Miranda Yardley, 51, of Leigh Road, was accused of harassing a transgender activist on Twitter - despite being a member of the transgender community.

Echo:

Talent - Mr Yardley, an accountant, describes himself as a transsexual and identifies as a man, even though he underwent gender reassignment to become a woman ten years ago

But the case was thrown out on the first day of the hearing at Basildon Magistrates Court on Friday, with the district judge insisting there was no evidence.

Mr Yardley, an accountant, describes himself as a transsexual and identifies as a man, even though he underwent gender reassignment to become a woman ten years ago.

He is of the belief, despite his own sex change, that individuals cannot change gender.

Yardley had been charged with non-violent harassment, but denied the charges in October.

Speaking after the case was thrown out, he said: “It was embarrassing for the CPS to even bring this.

“Talking about someone who is transsexual and who has lived his life as transsexual for a very long time as being anti-transgender is absurd.”

His accuser, Helen Islan, works with trans advocacy group Mermaids, which campaigns for children who want to change gender.

It is believed that one of Ms Islan’s children is transgender, and the dispute between the pair started with a debate, including other members of the public, about self-identification.

Self-identification allows people to be recognised as transgender, simply by declaring themselves male or female.

Ms Islan, using an online pseudonym, accused Yardley of spreading hysteria.

But in response, Yardley tweeted a picture and a link to her real identity, and referenced her transgender child, which Ms Islan claimed “outed him”.

It was claimed this led to harassment.

When called upon, the defence highlighted pages of social media posts in which Ms Island tweeted about her trans child, and that he had come out at school.

The court heard that a simple search on Google brought up Ms Islan’s personal details, including a family photograph that she had herself posted.

The case was thrown out and costs awarded to the defendant.