Tommy Robinson receives prison sentence for contempt of court

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson received an 18-month prison sentence following his admission of contempt of court, which involved reiterating untrue allegations concerning a Syrian refugee. Mr. Robinson, identified as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, acknowledged 10 violations of a High Court order established in 2021, during proceedings held at Woolwich Crown Court. Legal representatives for the solicitor general asserted that the 41-year-old had “undermined” the rule of law. When delivering the sentence, Judge Mr Justice Johnson stated that the injunction breaches, which prohibited Yaxley-Lennon from reiterating the allegations, were not “accidental, negligent or merely reckless” and that the custodial threshold was “amply crossed”. The court session on Monday marked the conclusion of a series of events originating in October 2018. In that month, a video gained widespread attention, depicting Jamal Hijazi, a Syrian residing in West Yorkshire, being assaulted by another teenager at school. Subsequently, Yaxley-Lennon shared his own commentary with one million Facebook followers, asserting that his inquiry had determined Mr. Hijazi to be a violent thug, an allegation that was false. The video disseminated by Yaxley-Lennon circulated extensively, leading to death threats against the Syrian teenager and his family. Three years subsequent to these events, Mr. Hijazi was awarded £100,000 in damages after the High Court determined that Yaxley-Lennon’s assertions against him constituted defamation. The court issued an injunction against Yaxley-Lennon, prohibiting him from reiterating the false claims. By February 2023, Yaxley-Lennon, who established the now-defunct English Defence League (EDL), recommenced repeating the claims and subsequently uploaded a video online asserting he had been “silenced” by the state. This film potentially garnered at least 47 million views. Ultimately, in July of this year, the anti-Islam activist presented the film to thousands of his supporters in London’s Trafalgar Square, declaring he would not be silenced. He departed the country the subsequent day. Aidan Eardley KC, representing Solicitor General Sarah Sackman, informed the court that Yaxley-Lennon had intended to reiterate the false allegations, notwithstanding the injunction, and subsequently employ “evasive” measures. “This is a high culpability case because of the high number of breaches,” Mr. Eardley stated. “It is a continuing breach, the material is still out there and some of it is under the defendant’s control.” Sasha Wass KC, representing Yaxley-Lennon, argued that he was a journalist who adhered to his principles and held a fervent belief in free speech. “This defendant has been neither sly nor dishonest nor seeking gain for himself,” she asserted. She further noted that due to his controversial nature, he might be subjected to solitary confinement by prison governors, a situation that arose during his previous incarceration, and medical evidence indicated he had previously experienced trauma, panic attacks, and nightmares. Sentencing Yaxley-Lennon to 18 months in prison, Mr Justice Johnson declared: “In a democratic society underpinned by the rule of law, court orders must be obeyed.“Nobody is above the law. Nobody can pick or choose which laws or which injunctions they obey, or which they do not.“Even if they believe that an injunction is… contrary to their views they must comply with the injunction.“They are not entitled to set themselves up as the judge in their own court. Otherwise the administration of justice and rule of law would break down.” The judge indicated that the contempt of court was aggravated by the defendant’s repetition of the claims subsequent to the commencement of proceedings against him, and by his failure to take measures to prevent the false claims from remaining in circulation. The sentence has the potential to be reduced by four months in the future, should the defendant demonstrate to the court that he has acted to remove the objectionable film. However, the judge further remarked: “The defendant has not shown any inclination to comply with the injunction in the future. All of his actions suggest that he regards himself as above the law.” This instance marked the fourth contempt case he has encountered, having previously been given a suspended sentence and a six-month prison term. Yaxley-Lennon faces a separate charge for not unlocking his phone for police when he was detained and questioned at a port under counter-terrorism authorities. His next court appearance regarding that accusation is scheduled for November.