The women behind the Supreme Court battle over the definition of a woman have been inundated with death threats and abuse since the landmark judgment.

It came as Nelson Mandela’s statue on Parliament Square was among seven vandalised at the weekend after thousands of trans rights activists gathered to protest against the ruling.

Scotland Yard was last night hunting for those who defaced the statues around Westminster, including that of suffragette Millicent Fawcett, which had ‘F** rights’ daubed on it. 

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘Criminal damage like this, including to statues of men and women who fought for freedom and justice like Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and Millicent Fawcett, is disgraceful.’

Wednesday’s ruling was the culmination of a seven-year legal fight brought by gender-critical campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS) against the Scottish government.

The three women behind FWS’s legal campaign revealed they have been subjected to an outpouring of hate since celebrating their victory outside the court.

Messages sent to FWS’s email address included one hours after the ruling that said: ‘You’re a group of disgusting murderers and deserve death. 

‘God will rip you from your family one day and nobody will mourn you.’ 

Susan Smith and Marion Calder of For Women Scotland, who say they have been subjected to death threats following the Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman

Statues were vandalised, including this one of suffragist Millicent Fawcett (left), while a Pride flag was wrapped around Winston Churchill (right)

Graffiti left on the statue of South African military leader Jan Smuts in Parliament Square

Another read: ‘Your inhumanity makes me vomit. You stupid women should feel deeply ashamed for being so stupid.’

Campaigner Susan Smith said: ‘It would never occur to us to send messages like this or to call our opponents ugly. But we get this every day.’ 

Marion Calder added: ‘Sadly, it is almost inevitable that women who speak up for our rights will be threatened by angry men. It’s a tale as old as the hills.

‘Thankfully, the nastiness is dwarfed by messages of love and support, many of which have brought us to tears.’ 

The women have not reported the threats to Police Scotland, who cannot investigate an offence unless it has been reported.

Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, who led the policing operation for Saturday’s protest in Westminster, said: ‘While the police support the public’s right to protest, criminality like this is senseless and unacceptable. We are pursuing this.’

Officers also said they were reviewing footage and vowed to take action if any protest placards displayed were in breach of the law.

Tory justice spokesman Robert Jenrick said last night: ‘The law must be enforced equally. Why have there been no arrests or charges for brazen criminal damage?

‘Until there is proper punishment for criminality like this, people will continue to do it knowing they can get off scot-free.’