Tommy Robinson jailed for contempt of court

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after confessing to contempt of court for making false statements about a Syrian refugee.

Robinson, whose actual name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, acknowledged that he violated a High Court order from 2021 on ten occasions during a session at Woolwich Crown Court.

Attorneys representing the solicitor general claimed that the 41-year-old was "jeopardizing" the integrity of the legal system.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Mr. Justice Johnson stated that Yaxley-Lenon's violations of the injunction—which was intended to stop him from making those claims again—were not just mistakes, carelessness, or thoughtless actions. He emphasized that the criteria for imprisonment had been more than sufficiently met.

Monday's hearing marked the final chapter of a series of events that began in October 2018.

During that month, a video gained widespread attention featuring Jamal Hijazi, a Syrian student from West Yorkshire, who had been assaulted by another teenager while at school.

Yaxley-Lennon later shared a reply with his one million Facebook followers, claiming that his investigation had proven that Mr. Hijazi was a violent criminal—an allegation that was false.

The video featuring Yaxley-Lennon went viral, leading to the Syrian teenager and his family being threatened with death.

Three years later, Mr. Hijazi was awarded £100,000 in compensation after the High Court determined that Yaxley-Lennon's accusations against him were defamatory.

The court placed a prohibition on Yaxley-Lennon, preventing him from repeating those untrue statements.

In February 2023, Yaxley-Lennon, the founder of the now-disbanded English Defence League (EDL), started to reiterate these assertions and shared a video online, stating that he had been "censored" by the government.

The movie has likely been watched over 47 million times.

This past July, the anti-Islam activist screened his film for thousands of supporters in Trafalgar Square, London, declaring that he wouldn't be muted. The next day, he departed the country.

Aidan Eardley KC, representing Solicitor General Sarah Sackman, informed the court that Yaxley-Lennon planned to continue making the false accusations, even after the court's order, and was prepared to use "evasive" tactics.

Mr. Eardley commented, "This case carries significant responsibility due to the large number of violations involved."

"It's an ongoing violation, and the material remains accessible, with some of it still being managed by the defendant."

Sasha Wass KC, representing Yaxley-Lennon, stated that he views him as a journalist who has consistently adhered to his values and strongly advocates for the right to free speech.

"The defendant has not been deceitful, cunning, or looking to profit personally," she stated.

She mentioned that he was such a polarizing individual that prison officials might put him in solitary confinement, just like they did during his previous imprisonment. Additionally, there was medical documentation showing that he had experienced trauma, panic attacks, and nightmares in the past.

In sentencing Yaxley-Lennon to 18 months in prison, Mr. Justice Johnson stated, "In a democracy that relies on the rule of law, it is essential that court orders are followed."

No one is exempt from the law. Everyone must follow the rules and regulations without the option to select which ones to adhere to or disregard.

"Even if they think that the injunction goes against their beliefs, they still have to follow it."

"They can't take it upon themselves to be the judge in their own case. If they did, it would undermine the proper functioning of justice and the rule of law."

The judge noted that the defendant's actions contributed to the seriousness of the contempt of court since he continued to make false claims even after legal proceedings were initiated against him. Additionally, he failed to take action to halt the spread of these inaccurate statements.

The duration of the sentence might be reduced by four months in the future if the defendant demonstrates to the court that he has taken action to eliminate the problematic film.

However, the judge noted, "The defendant has demonstrated no willingness to follow the court order moving forward. His behavior indicates that he believes he is above the law."

This is the fourth time he has been involved in a contempt case, having earlier received a suspended sentence as well as a six-month prison term.

Yaxley-Lennon is facing an additional charge for not unlocking his phone for law enforcement when he was stopped and interrogated at a port as part of anti-terrorism measures. He is scheduled to return to court to address this matter in November.