Tommy Robinson jailed for contempt of court

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

Robinson, whose actual name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, confessed to violating a High Court ruling from 2021 on ten occasions during a session at Woolwich Crown Court.

Attorneys representing the solicitor general accused the 41-year-old of "weakening" the rule of law.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Mr. Justice Johnson stated that the violations of the injunction, which barred Yaxley-Lenon from making the allegations again, were not due to chance, carelessness, or just a lack of caution. He emphasized that the seriousness of the situation clearly warranted imprisonment.

The hearing on Monday marked the conclusion of a series of events that began in October 2018.

During that month, a video gained widespread attention, depicting an incident in which Jamal Hijazi, a Syrian living in West Yorkshire, was assaulted by another teenager at his school.

Yaxley-Lennon later shared his own message with his one million followers on Facebook, claiming that his research showed Mr. Hijazi was a violent criminal, a statement that was false.

The video featuring Yaxley-Lennon went viral, leading to the Syrian teenager and his family being subjected to threats on their lives.

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

The court issued an order against Yaxley-Lennon, preventing him from repeating the false statements.

In February 2023, Yaxley-Lennon, the creator of the now-defunct English Defence League (EDL), started to reiterate these assertions and shared a video online, alleging that he had been “silenced” by the government.

The movie has likely been watched over 47 million times.

In July, the activist opposing Islam presented the film to thousands of his followers in Trafalgar Square, London, declaring that he wouldn’t be quieted. The next day, he exited the country.

Aidan Eardley KC, representing Solicitor General Sarah Sackman, informed the court that Yaxley-Lennon planned to make the same untrue claims again, in violation of the injunction, and would subsequently employ "evasive" tactics.

Robinson has been sentenced to prison after acknowledging he violated a High Court ruling from 2021 on ten separate occasions.

"This case involves significant accountability due to the large number of violations," stated Mr. Eardley.

"This is an ongoing violation, as the content remains accessible and some of it is still within the defendant's influence."

Sasha Wass KC, representing Yaxley-Lennon, stated that he was a journalist who stayed true to his values and had a strong commitment to free speech.

"The defendant has displayed integrity and honesty throughout and has not acted out of self-interest," she stated.

She mentioned that he was such a divisive personality that prison officials might isolate him in solitary confinement, just like they did during his previous incarceration. Additionally, there is medical proof that he has experienced trauma, panic attacks, and nightmares in the past.

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 selectively ignore certain laws or orders."

"Regardless of whether they disagree with the injunction, they are still required to follow it."

"They can't take it upon themselves to act as the judges in their own cases. If they did, it would undermine the fairness of the justice system and the rule of law."

The judge noted that the situation was made worse because the defendant continued to make the accusations even after legal action had started against him. He also failed to take any measures to stop the spread of those false claims.

In the future, the defendant could have their sentence reduced by four months if they demonstrate to the court that they have taken actions to eliminate the problematic film.

However, the judge stated, "The defendant has not demonstrated any willingness to follow the court order moving forward. His behavior indicates that he feels he is above the law."

This is the fourth time he has been in contempt of court. In the past, he was given a suspended sentence and a six-month prison term.

Yaxley-Lennon has also been charged for not unlocking his phone for the police when he was approached and interrogated at a port under anti-terrorism laws. He is scheduled to appear in court to address this charge in November.