London court: Tommy Robinson allegedly posted photos of journalist's family and threatened him

The key facts

Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) pleaded not guilty in July last year to two counts of stalking Daily Mail journalists
According to the prosecution, after publications about Robinson's holiday in Cyprus, journalist Andrew Young received threats, and photos of his wife and child appeared on Robinson's social media
The second journalist, Jacob Dirnhuber, said he was forced to move house and is still afraid to leave his home

Prosecution describes 'intimidation' of journalists

Southwark Crown Court in London is hearing the case of 43-year-old activist Tommy Robinson from Bedfordshire, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. In July last year he pleaded not guilty to two counts of stalking causing fear of violence against Daily Mail journalists Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber. Prosecutor Ben Holt said the trial concerns Robinson's reaction to the newspaper's publications and accused him of using 'thuggish tactics' to 'intimidate' journalists.

What preceded the conflict

According to the court, after the killing of three girls in Southport in July 2024, Robinson published social media posts through which the Daily Mail learned he was on holiday in Cyprus. The newspaper published articles about him 'on a sun lounger'. The prosecution argues that Robinson's reaction to these publications forms the basis of the case.

Andrew Young's testimony

In a statement read out in court, Young said that a person, believed to be a Robinson supporter, published his home address on X. He then received a call from a man who identified himself as Robinson, who, according to Young, behaved 'increasingly threateningly, swearing and shouting'. Young says he heard the phrase 'I'm coming for you'. According to him, on 6 August his family told him about a grey Audi parked near the house with a man inside, and he believed that 'Tommy Robinson was carrying out his threats'. The court also heard that in the days after the publication two men in a car shouted at Young's daughter and, in her view, photographed her. Young said Robinson's actions caused his family 'excessive stress'. The prosecution said photographs of Young's wife and child were later published to Robinson's subscribers on social media.

Jacob Dirnhuber's testimony

According to the prosecutor, the second alleged victim, Dirnhuber, was afraid to appear in public after the harassment. In his statement he described the unrest following the attack in Southport and said that coverage of 'far-right agitation' online by figures such as Robinson, which led to disorder across the country, was in the public interest. According to the prosecution, in August 2024 Dirnhuber received a series of messages from Robinson, and ultimately the journalist had to move house. In a statement read out on Tuesday, he said: 'It made me afraid to go out in public, afraid to go to my own home, I felt guilty about how it affected my loved ones.' He added: 'Even now, when leaving the house, I am aware of the risk of vigilante attack. I feel vulnerable. I feel I will be looking over my shoulder for a long time.'