Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been charged on two counts of harassment by causing fear of violence in 2024 towards two journalists working for the Mail, Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber. Robinson, who is 43 years old, denies the charges.
Prosecutor Ben Holt told the jury that Robinson was guilty of harassment because, as he noted, we do not live in a 'world of arbitrariness'. "Let's get real, shall we, and not live in a vigilante world where 'men's rules' apply? Whatever they are. Let's ground ourselves in a country where there is law and order," said Holt. The prosecution described Robinson's behaviour as 'bullyboy and intimidatory'.
Robinson posted a video in which he told Daily Mail journalists that he would find them after they wrote about his alleged role in influencing riots in England in 2024. He told the journalists that he had obtained data on where they and their families lived, and warned them to adhere to 'men's rules'. Holt said that Robinson accepted that sharing images of the journalists' homes and partial photographs of their relatives was intended to exert pressure, but rejected Robinson's insistence that the journalists would not be in fear of violence.
Holt said that Robinson never asked for the disputed image to be removed in calls and messages to the journalists and the Daily Mail editor. "Instead, he just threatened people. He acted like a bully," said Holt. He repeated Robinson's words directed at the journalists: "Good for the goose, good for the gander. You are coming for me, I am coming for you," and described this as 'straightforward retaliation'. He added that the journalists' concern was so great that the police had to be called on multiple occasions, and pointed to 'unpleasant' comments by Robinson's supporters online following some of his posts. Robinson had nearly 1 million followers on X at one point, and Holt said that some of his supporters were 'unpredictable'.
In his testimony, Robinson said he was in a 'panic' after the Mail effectively identified the hotel in Cyprus where he had gone with family and friends. The Mail published a photograph of Robinson's ex-wife, which, he said, exposed her to risk.
Alisdair Williamson KC, for the defence, said that Robinson's actions were justified because 'fear for him is real'. He told the jury: "When you judge whether what he did was reasonable, you might think that he showed some restraint." He added: "I know what language I might use if people put my family in that position. The fear for him is real." Williamson said that the journalists were not interested in Robinson's concern about the article or the stress it caused him, saying: "They don't care to pick up the phone."
A series of agreed facts was read to the court before the closing speeches. These included references to four police warnings about threats to life given to Robinson in 2018, 2019 and 2024, shortly after a Daily Mail article. The court also heard that in August 2024, a man named Omar Abdirizak posted a video online in which he said: "Tommy Robinson I got a message for you … we got pirates in every corner. Muslims in every corner," before making a gun gesture. The trial continues.
