Police probing a suspected hate crime quizzed a mum – over stickers supporting Harry Potter author JK Rowling in her row with the transgender community.
Officers spoke to Suzy Ireson, 51, after she put a post about the slogans on Facebook.
One featured the silhouette of a witch’s hat with the message “Modern Day Witch Hunts I Refuse to Bow Down”. An- other said: “Don’t flush our rights down the toilet. Protect single sex spaces.”
Trans activists accused Ms Ireson of trying to stoke hatred by posting the stickers.
She said the messages are satirical and denied she planted the stickers, which appeared in Torquay, Devon, while she was there with son George, nine.
Police spoke to Ms Ireson at her holiday let. She said: “I asked what crime was committed. They said they weren’t sure, but it was to do with stickers on the seafront. I thought they’d have enough on their hands maintaining social distancing on the crowded beaches.”
JK Rowling came under fire for controversial tweets about transgender people, including their access to women-only spaces. She was criticised by fans of her books, which include Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and stars of the movie adaptations.
But Ms Ireson, of Hungerford, Berks, said: “I know lots of women concerned about women’s rights – not least losing our loos and changing rooms – who’ve been questioned by police.” The mum has been branded a bigot online.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed they spoke to “an individual” about stickers “of a potentially hateful nature”.
