Tommy Robinson Found Guilty of Harassing Two Journalists

Tommy Robinson was found guilty on Wednesday of harassing two Daily Mail journalists so badly that they feared violence. He faces up to 10 years in prison. Robinson's real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

The verdicts came at Southwark crown court on both counts. The jury had deliberated for two days, and the judge told them they could return a majority verdict instead of a unanimous one.

The charges covered Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber. They had worked, with a third reporter, on an article about Robinson's alleged role in the unrest that followed the 2024 Southport murders. The trial heard that Robinson posted pictures of one journalist's family online and said he had "tagged and bagged" all three reporters.

Anger over a Cyprus story

The posts began on 5 August 2024. Robinson was angry that the Mail had tracked him to a hotel in Cyprus and run a story headlined "Stoking race riots from his sunbed". One post on X, viewed 244,000 times, asked whether it was fine to track down the journalists' addresses and family details and dox them. He also called Young that day and told him he would visit his house.

Dirnhuber and his partner had to leave their home. Young's family was given a close protection officer. A third reporter, George Odling, said in a witness statement that he, his wife and their young child left through a neighbour's house because they feared being followed by Robinson's supporters.

Young said in a statement that Robinson had 800,000 followers on X at the time. He feared one of them might seek revenge on him, his home or his family.

Robinson told the court he had been in "a panic". He said the Mail had in effect identified the Cyprus hotel and published a photo of his ex-wife. He said he had only wanted to question the journalists and claimed they knew he was "not coming to beat them up".

Reaction and sentencing

Frank Ferguson of the Crown Prosecution Service said Robinson had "weaponised social media". He said nobody should be made to fear violence because of their work. A Daily Mail spokesperson called Robinson's behaviour "reprehensible".

Journalists were escorted from the courtroom by security after one was threatened inside by a Robinson supporter. The man was removed from the press gallery and then from the courtroom.

Mr Justice Cavanagh said he would consider all options, including a custodial sentence, whether in full or suspended. Sentencing is set for 16 December.

Source: The Guardian