The key facts

  • Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, 43) is on trial for harassing two MailOnline journalists; the trial is expected to last five days
  • The charges concern messages on X and a phone call on 5–7 August 2024; he has pleaded not guilty
  • The maximum penalty is six months in prison or an unlimited fine

Tommy Robinson's trial begins on Monday

British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, aged 43, will appear in court on Monday on two charges of harassment causing fear of violence against two MailOnline journalists, Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber. According to Anadolu, the proceedings are expected to last five days. The charges relate to incidents allegedly taking place on 5–7 August 2024.

Course of the case and the defence's position

At a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 5 June 2025, Robinson pleaded not guilty. In July of last year he also declared his innocence, and at a hearing at Southwark Crown Court in early October, according to the outlet, he merely confirmed his name. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had authorised the Metropolitan Police to bring charges against Yaxley-Lennon. A CPS representative recalled that the criminal prosecution is active and that the defendant has the right to a fair trial.

The substance of the charges

According to the prosecution, Robinson harassed the journalists via the American social network X and by phone. In a call to Young on 5 August 2024, he is alleged to have said he would come to his home, adding: 'I'm coming after you.' In direct messages to Dirnhuber the same day, he allegedly wrote: 'I will knock on your door.' On 6 August, according to the prosecution, he published a post: 'Gotcha @Jdirnhuber, this is Jacob, he likes to track down and endanger families,' and also stated that 'Daily Mail journalists involved in threatening my children have been found today,' adding: 'I look forward to your justification for de-anonymising the location of my children on camera. I got all three of you in one day.' Later that same day, the prosecution claims, he wrote to Dirnhuber: 'I will bring my questions to your doors.'

Possible penalty and the defendant's background

The maximum penalty for this offence is six months' imprisonment or an unlimited fine. According to Anadolu, Robinson has a lengthy criminal record: convictions for multiple assaults, mortgage fraud, passport forgery, stalking, contempt of court and a number of public order offences; between 2005 and 2025 he served five prison sentences. He was also a co-founder of the far-right anti-Islam organisation the English Defence League and led it from 2009 to 2013.