Tommy Robinson guilty of harassing Daily Mail journalists
Political activist Tommy Robinson has been found guilty of harassing two Daily Mail journalists. The court heard that Robinson used intimidatory tactics against the reporters following their coverage of his activities during the 2024 riots.
Why it matters
The case highlights the legal boundaries between aggressive political activism and criminal harassment of the press.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, The court heard how Robinson had hired private investigators to find the addresses of two Daily Mail journalists
Political activist Tommy Robinson has been convicted of harassing two Daily Mail journalists.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court found the 43-year-old, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, guilty of two counts of harassment causing fear of violence.
The case concerned Robinson's response to Daily Mail and Mail Online articles from August 2024, showing him on holiday in Cyprus while riots took place in England following the Southport murders.
The court had heard how Robinson, from Bedfordshire, used "bully-boy, intimidatory tactics" to frighten reporters Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber, forcing them to employ security or leave home.
Robinson had denied the charges, saying he had "panicked" and had been "scared" when the Daily Mail published a story accusing him of "stoking race riots from his sunbed".
Also covering this story
2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in