A conspiracy theorist has been fined for shoving a trans activist at a Brighton rally. Payne, of The Promenade, Peacehaven, had been attending the gender critical rally and Ms Friend had been part of a protest against that and advocating for trans rights. “I would not say for a second that he’s someone who has far right views. I wish I’d never been.”He also repeated his accusation that Ms Friend had hit him with a megaphone, which he had not been able to prove at trial. It’s a push – it’s clearly very upsetting for Ms Friend but I have to consider it in the context of the type of violence that can come in the offence of assault by beating.