Brighton man pleads guilty to transphobic attack at city shops

A Brighton man has pleaded guilty to a transphobic public order offence, after targeting his victim on two separate occasions.

Matthew Sullivan, 35, of Ladysmith Road, was ordered by Brighton Magistrates to undertake 55 hours of unpaid work.

He will always have to pay a total of £210, which includes which includes costs.

Sullivan, was arrested following two incidents where he had verbally abused a woman named by police only as Sian. They took place at businesses in Lewes Road on 19 February this year and November 25 last year.

She was shopping in Sainsburys on the first occasion, and Shabitat on the second occasion, when Sullivan who is a stranger to her, subjected her to the abuse.

Police said these incidents are not the first in which Sian, who is in her thirties and lives Brighton, has experienced transphobic hostility from strangers in the city.