Tommy Robinson found guilty of harassing two Daily Mail journalists
British political activist Tommy Robinson has been convicted at Southwark Crown Court in London of harassing two Daily Mail journalists in a way that caused fear of violence. He will be sentenced on 16 December.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday convicted British political activist Tommy Robinson of harassing two journalists. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is 43. He was found guilty on two counts of harassment causing fear of violence. He was granted bail until sentencing, which is scheduled for 16 December.
What the case was about
The case centred on Robinson's reaction to articles published by the Daily Mail and its website Mail Online in August 2024. They showed him on holiday in Cyprus while riots were under way in England after the Southport murders. According to prosecutor Ben Holt, three girls were murdered in Southport on 29 July 2024, and Robinson then made several social media posts that alerted the two outlets to the fact that he was in Cyprus.
The court heard that Robinson, who is from Bedfordshire, used intimidatory tactics against reporters Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber. As a result, they had to hire security or leave their homes.
Robinson's account
Robinson denied the charges. He said he had "panicked" and been "scared" when the Daily Mail ran a story accusing him of "stoking race riots from his sunbed". He told the jury he believed the article had endangered his family by revealing they were staying at a hotel near Ayia Napa in Cyprus.
Prosecution response
After the verdicts, Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said Robinson had "weaponised social media" and subjected two journalists to a campaign of harassment that caused them serious fear of violence. The trial lasted a week.
