Tommy Robinson faces up to 10 years in jail after being found guilty of harassing journalists

Far-right agitator Tommy Robinson faces up to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of harassing two journalists to the point that they feared violence.

The court heard that journalists from the Daily Mail and their family members fled their homes after Robinson deployed “bullyboy, intimidatory tactics”.

As reported by the Guardian, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, shared photos of one of the family of one of the journalists online.

He also said he had “tagged and bagged” three reporters who worked on an article about his alleged role influencing unrest that broke out after the 2024 Southport murders.

The charges related to two of the journalists, Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber.

Robinson began to intimidate the Daily Mail journalists after they published an article revealing that he was staying at a hotel in Cyprus while posting online about the Southport murders.

They published a story about him with the headline “Stoking race riots from his sunbed”.

Yaxley-Lennon was accused of harassment causing fear of violence through posts shared with his hundreds of thousands of followers on X and by direct messages. 

On 5 August 2024, he called Young and told him that he would visit his house, saying: “I’m coming to get you.”

Dirnhuber and his partner had to leave their home as a result of Robinson’s intimidatory behaviour.

Young and his family were provided with a close protection officer after an alleged campaign of intimidation.

As part of this, Robinson called the editor of the Daily Mail and said he would make the journalists and their families “famous”.

In a witness statement, Dirnhuber said “I was concerned about the risk of being intercepted on my way to work, either by Robinson for a livestreamed interview or by an unpredictable supporter of his hoping to cause me or my partner physical harm.”

A third Daily Mail journalist, George Odling, said in a witness statement that he, his wife and young child had to leave their home through a neighbour’s house because they feared being followed by Robinson’s supporters.

The trial heard that Robinson began posting “angry” and “retaliatory” messages on 5 August 2024, after the Daily Mail photographed him in Cyprus and published a story about his trip.

In a post on X, which has been viewed 244,000 times and made reference to the newspaper’s front page headline “Stoking riots from his sunbed”, he wrote: “Quick question, these lies have a direct result on threats to my family.

“Is it ok if I track down the journalists addresses + families details + dox them. Would that be journalism. This has been coordinated from the top down because my latest documentary humiliates their lies.

“They have purposely doxxed where my children are is it fair for me to do the same to them.”

Southwark crown court found Robinson guilty of two counts of harassment causing fear of violence.

Security escorted journalists out of the courtroom after one of them was threatened inside the court by one of Robinson’s supporters. 

The man was later made to leave the press gallery and the court room. 

Robinson is due back in court on 16 December for a sentencing hearing. The judge, Mr Justice Cavanagh, said he would be considering all sentencing options, including a custodial sentence, whether in full or suspended. 

Harassment causing fear of violence can carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Despite Robinson being on trial for harassing journalists, Nigel Farage confirmed earlier this week that Reform candidates would not be banned from standing if they have ‘liked’ his social media posts.

Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward