Jury Convicts Tommy Robinson Over Harassment Campaign Against Two Journalists

A jury in London has found far-right British activist Tommy Robinson guilty of harassing two journalists so severely that they feared violence. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, faces up to 10 years in prison and is due to be sentenced on Dec. 16.

The verdict came Wednesday at Southwark Crown Court, according to The Guardian and ABC News. ABC reported that jurors were split 10 to 2 on both charges. The Guardian said the jury deliberated for two days and was told by the judge that a majority verdict would be accepted.

What the jury decided

The charges involved two journalists, Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber. Prosecutors argued that Robinson turned on them after the Daily Mail and MailOnline published a story about his activity during the unrest that followed the murders of three girls in Southport in 2024. The article, which carried a headline about him stoking riots from a sunbed, was reported while he was on holiday in Cyprus, ABC said.

The Guardian reported that Robinson shared pictures of one journalist’s family online and said he had singled out the three reporters who worked on the article. ABC reported that he hired private investigators to find home addresses for the reporters and for the Daily Mail’s editor-in-chief.

On Aug. 5, 2024, Robinson called Young and told him, “I’m coming to get you,” according to both outlets. ABC described the call as increasingly menacing. The Guardian said Robinson also called the Daily Mail’s editor and said he would make the journalists and their families famous.

What the prosecution and the newspaper say

Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime and counter-terrorism division, said the jury heard from the victims and witnesses and concluded that the behavior crossed into criminality. The Guardian reported that the prosecution service said Robinson had weaponized social media.

Prosecutors told the court that the campaign had real consequences. According to The Guardian, Dirnhuber and his partner left their home, while Young and his family were given a close protection officer. In a witness statement, a third Daily Mail journalist, George Odling, said he, his wife and their young child left their home through a neighbor’s house because they feared being followed by Robinson’s supporters.

Young told the court that his main worry was that Robinson’s 800,000 followers on X at the time might seek revenge on him, his home or his family. The Daily Mail welcomed the verdict, calling Robinson’s behavior reprehensible and saying it stands by its journalists and their freedom to report in the public interest.

What Robinson says

Robinson told the court he had been in a panic after the Mail effectively identified the hotel in Cyprus where he was staying with family and friends and published a photo of his ex-wife, which he said put her at risk. He said he only wanted to question the journalists and claimed they knew he was not coming to beat them up, The Guardian reported.

The Guardian also said a post he wrote on X, viewed 244,000 times, asked whether it would be acceptable to track down the journalists’ addresses and family details and publish them, after he said the newspaper had done the same to him. After the verdict, ABC reported, Robinson took to social media and called the verdicts “insane.” Both outlets said his legal costs were paid by Elon Musk, the owner of X.

Why it matters: protections for reporters

The case is one of the more prominent British prosecutions over the harassment of journalists by an online figure with a large following. Ferguson said nobody should be made to fear violence because of their work and that journalists should be able to do their jobs without harassment.

The trial also showed how online posts and direct messages can lead to real-world consequences.

What happens next

Justice John Cavanagh granted Robinson bail ahead of the sentencing hearing on Dec. 16, ABC reported. The judge said he would consider all options, including a prison sentence, whether served in full or suspended, according to The Guardian. Harassment causing fear of violence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Around Prague, based on reporting by The Guardian, ABC News