A breastfeeding mother of two kept in police custody for 11 hours after misgendering a transgender woman on Twitter pleaded not guilty to charges in court on 18 September 2019 before her defence barrister announced she will be making a ‘bad character application’ regarding the complainant.

Kate Scottow, 38, was arrested in front of her children last December after a complaint was made to police by Stephanie Hayden, 46, a trans woman who describes herself as a lawyer and social commentator, over messages posted on the social networking platform.

Mrs Scottow was charged in August with ‘sending false messages’ but the charge was amended by the Crown Prosecution Service to ‘persistent’ messages during the hearing at Stevenage Magistrates Court. The prosecution counsel, Daniel Siong, told magistrates: ‘This is a novel case’.

As a trial date was agreed for 6 February 2020, defence counsel Diana Wilson of 9 Bedford Row Chambers said extended time in the witness box for Ms Hayden would be required alleging ‘because of her extensive bad character’. Ms Wilson added: ‘I can’t bring it [the application] until I have the relevant material.’

Earlier she noted: ‘There is quite a lot of disclosure pending.’