The Sussex University professor at the centre of a transgender row has claimed that her academic peers turned students against her during lectures.

       In her first interview since resigning last week, Prof Kathleen Stock revealed that the student backlash against her was really “the end point in three and a half years of low level bullying, harassment and reputation trashing from colleagues”.

       The expert in analytic philosophy told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour that her views about gender identity policies became “radically misrepresented” by fellow academics.

       “They tell their students in lectures that I pose a harm to trans students or they go on Twitter and they say that I’m a bigot,” she said.

       Prof Stock recently published a book questioning the idea that gender identity is more “socially significant” than biological sex and has argued that it should not become easier for trans people to change gender.

       Amid accusations of “transphobia”, she became the subject of “intense” protests, received death threats and had posters of her put up around the university in which students called for her to be fired.

       “I think most of the students who protested against me really haven’t got a clue what I actually think,” she added.

       She told Woman’s Hour: “In departmental meetings people radically misrepresent my views, saying things like “she thinks all trans women are rapists” or “she’s a bigot, she’s harmful, she doesn’t like trans people”.”

       The accusations of transphobia are “totally false”, she insists, but adds that she is “powerless” to change the narrative herself.

       Prof Stock also revealed that she had received messages of support from others who seemed afraid to speak out. She told the radio programme: “I’ve had plenty of people say to me via email “I’m so sorry, I would love to be able to stand with you and I agree with you, but I’m coming up for promotion” or “I’m precarious” or “I’m a student”.”

       She said that on Tuesday a former student, who is a trans man, had emailed thanking her for the support she gave him while he studied at Sussex University.

       She added: “I just hope that in a few years time these students realise that the world is not as hostile to them as they think it is and that I was not as hostile to them as they thought I was.”