A VICTIM of transphobic abuse has told how her ordeal made her wonder if she would ever be accepted.

Sian spoke out about her ordeal after Matthew Sullivan pleaded guilty to committing hate crime.

Sullivan, 35, of Ladysmith Road, Brighton, appeared before the city's Magistrates' Court charged with a public order offence of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

It followed his arrest after two incidents where he verbally abused Sian in Lewes Road, at Sainsbury's on November 25 and Shabitat on February 19.

He shouted and swore at her and made derogatory comments about her sexuality. It was reported to police that he called her a man and that she needed her "head chopping off", as well as saying "Do you like my top? It's from Germany. They would have killed people like you."

Sian, aged in her 30s, said it was not the first time she had been abused by strangers.

She said: "I started to notice I wasn’t confident going out. I started to question my life. Would I ever be accepted?"

Sullivan was ordered to carry out 55 hours of unpaid work and pay £210 in court costs and a victim surcharge. Magistrates upped his sentence because his abuse was transgender-motivated.

Sian said she now feels like she can get on with her life.

She said: "Following the court case I feel like this has been resolved and I feel more hopeful and confident to deal with a similar situation in the future.

"The crime had a major negative effect on my mental health and well-being, so although the punishment feels lenient, I am glad he is doing community service. The support from the LGBT police team was invaluable and really reassuring on the day."

PC Sarah Laker, of Brighton and Hove’s LGBT police team, said: "We gave additional support to Sian as the investigation was progressing to reassure her that we take transphobic hate very seriously and to help colleagues understand the transgender aspect of the crime. The support of the LGBT team also included accompanying Sian to court on the day of the trial.

“Sian was provided with screens at court so that she would not have to see the defendant when giving her evidence at the trial. However, on the day itself, Sullivan pleaded guilty so neither Sian nor the witnesses were required to give evidence."