Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been jailed for 18 months after admitting breaches of a High Court libel order.
The 41-year-old Islamophobe from Luton appeared at Woolwich Crown Court this morning after failing to appear at a previous contempt hearing for repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee.
Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, handed himself into police in Folkestone, Kent, on Friday after returning to the country recently from his base in the south of Spain.
Asked by the judge, Mr Justice Johnson, whether he accepted he had committed the breaches, Robinson nodded and then replied “Yes.”
The judge labelled Robinson’s actions a “blatant breach” of libel restrictions and told Robinson that “nobody is above the law… A non custodial sentence cannot be justified.”
Robinson’s libellous comments came despite a 2021 High Court order being in place, banning the activist from repeating the allegations against the refugee who sued him.
The judge informed Robinson that he would receive a 10% reduction for his guilty plea before handing him the maximum two year sentence. It means Robinson will now be sentenced to 18 months in prison.
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The warrant for which Robinson appeared on Monday related to the political activist’s failure to appear at a hearing which took place at the end of July.
Robinson is said to have repeated allegations against the refugee after airing a film at a protest in Trafalgar Square.
The activist, who has one million followers on X, had previously been successfully sued for libel by the refugee.
In July 2021, Robinson was found to have libeled the teenage boy by making false allegations against him. He was ordered to pay £100,000 in damages plus significant legal costs, which were estimated to be around £500,000.
Following this, Robinson was accused of breaching a High Court order by repeating these libelous claims in various forms, including during a protest at Trafalgar Square and through a documentary titled “Silenced.” Despite being barred from making such allegations, he continued to do so, which led to charges of contempt of court.
The case has drawn significant attention, with thousands of far-right activists supporting Robinson at protests, while critics argue he’s been “thumbing his nose at the court.”
Background
Robinson is the former leader of the English Defence League (EDL).
Born on November 27, 1982, in Luton, Bedfordshire, to an Irish Catholic father and an English Protestant mother, Robinson’s early life included involvement with various gangs, which later influenced his activism.
In 2009, following an incident where Muslim protesters were perceived to have disrespected soldiers returning from Afghanistan, Robinson co-founded the EDL. The group aimed to oppose what they saw as “Islamic extremism” and what they believed was the spread of Shari’ah law in the UK.
Robinson’s activism has often focused on criticising Islam, immigration and what he perceives as government failures in handling these issues. His methods and rhetoric have led to numerous controversies, including accusations of hate speech and incitement.
Over the years, Robinson has faced multiple legal challenges, including:
- Contempt of Court: He has been convicted several times for contempt of court, often for reporting on trials related to grooming gang cases, which he claims are underreported due to political correctness.
- Imprisonments and Arrests: He has been arrested and imprisoned on various occasions, often sparking debates about freedom of speech versus legal accountability.
Robinson has leveraged social media and traditional media to amplify his views, often positioning himself as an outsider fighting against mainstream narratives. He has been banned from several social platforms but continues to find ways to reach his audience.
Robinson garners significant support from mainly working class white people who feel marginalised by mainstream political discourse, viewing him as a defender of free speech and British identity.
Conversely, he’s strongly opposed by many who see his actions as promoting Islamophobia, xenophobia, and racial hatred.
