Eddie Izzard appeared in court today for a case against a man who shouted homophobic abuse at him on the street.
Explaining why he had reported the matter to police, the comedian said he was taking a stand against "thousands of years of transgender people being aggressively attacked".
Hammersmith magistrates court heard that Jamie Penny, 24, and another man approached Izzard on April 3 as he was by his car, and asked him for a lift.
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 being arrested.
"You should give me a ride in your car," Penny leaned in and said on April 3, according to Izzard (via The Guardian).
When Izzard refused, Penny's friend told him: "Izzard, we are going to do your house when you are away." Izzard called him a "f**king idiot" and told him to "f**k off" in response.
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The TV star told the court: "It was totally aggressive. It had gone up into a verbal attack. He was walking away but shouting aggressively at me.
"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."
The court heard that a month later on May 4, Penny again shouted to Izzard "you're a f**king poofter" when Izzard was walking towards his house near to Victoria Station.
Izzard told magistrates: "I am tough, I have run marathons, I wanted to stand up for myself otherwise you become a victim."
He was given Penny's name by people at a nearby pub where was he was first abused, but only told police following the second incident.
Penny told the court that he didn't initially know who Izzard was and had to look him up online. He also claimed that Izzard was "talking to us like we are nothing" and that on the second occasion, he was provoked by an intoxicated Izzard allegedly harassing a black man driving a Bentley.
Penny also denied calling Izzard a "poofter".
Penny, who the court heard has previous convictions for assault and possession of cannabis, has been handed a restraining order and must pay costs and compensation. He is bailed until November 30 when he will be sentenced at Westminster magistrates court.
