Tommy Robinson: Crowd reacts in anger after ex-EDL leader found in contempt of court

Former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson has been found in contempt of court after “aggressively confronting and filming” defendants in a criminal trial.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, filmed suspects on trial over the sexual exploitation of young girls and live-streamed the footage on social media – breaching a reporting ban.

He argued he did not believe he was breaching the restrictions, which postponed the publication of any details about the case until the end of a series of linked trials involving 29 defendants.

But the 36-year-old broadcast the footage from outside Leeds Crown Court on 25 May 2018 while the jury in the second trial was considering its verdict.

The video was viewed online 250,000 times after being live-streamed on Facebook.

At the Old Bailey on Friday, Dame Victoria Sharp, sitting alongside Mr Justice Warby, said Robinson had breached the reporting restriction by live-streaming the video from outside the public entrance to the court and by “aggressively confronting and filming” some of the defendants.

The judge said the content of the video “gave rise to a substantial risk that the course of justice in that case would be seriously impeded”.

A provisional sentencing date of 11 July has been set, although this depends on the availability of medical reports.

Robinson’s defence team say jail time he has already served in connection with the case has been detrimental to his health.

Outside the court, up to 300 Robinson supporters reacted angrily to the verdict, shouting and jeering.

A number of them chanted “shame on you” while pointing at the court, and beer cans were thrown at journalists.

After leaving the court, Robinson stood on a temporary stage outside and insisted that the verdict had a negative impact on press freedom.

He told supporters: “I’ve been convicted ‘cos of who I am, not what I’ve done.”

Robinson, from Luton in Bedfordshire, had been jailed for 13 months in May 2018 after a previous trial on the contempt matter.

But he was freed from prison after two months following the Court of Appeal’s decision to quash the finding of contempt made in Leeds.

The case was referred back to the Attorney General Geoffrey Cox QC, who announced in March that fresh contempt proceedings would be brought against Robinson.

After Friday’s ruling, Mr Cox said: “Posting material online that breaches reporting restrictions or risks prejudicing legal proceedings is a very serious matter and this is reflected in the court’s decision today.

“I would urge everyone to think carefully about whether their social media posts could amount to contempt of court.”

Contempt of court carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison so, should Robinson be given a jail sentence, it is possible it could be no longer than the time he has already served.

(c) Sky News 2019: Tommy Robinson: Crowd reacts in anger after ex-EDL leader found in contempt of court