The key facts
- Robinson denies two charges of harassment causing fear of violence against journalists Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber
- He admitted hiring private investigators to find and photograph the journalists, calling his actions 'entirely reasonable'
- Journalists told the court they feared 'vigilante attacks' after Robinson's posts on X
Evidence at Southwark Crown Court
Political activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, 43, from Bedfordshire, gave evidence at Southwark Crown Court. He denies two charges of harassment causing fear of violence against Daily Mail journalists Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber following the 2024 Southport attacks. According to the prosecution, he posted on X, sent private messages and called the journalists in a way that made them fear attacks from 'spontaneous vigilantes'.
Holiday in Cyprus and the Daily Mail article
Robinson told the jury that in early August 2024, when unrest was taking place in England after the killing of three girls in Southport, he was on holiday with his ex-wife, three children and three other families at the Atlantica Mare hotel in Cyprus. He said he had kept his ex-wife and children out of the public eye for 17 years, 'travelling in separate cars'. He denies 'inciting' the unrest and claims he tried to 'calm' it. After the Daily Mail article was published saying he was allegedly 'inciting race riots from a sun lounger', he said he 'panicked', because the article made it possible to identify his holiday location and contained a photo of his wife. He said his 12-year-old daughter received rape threats and his wife had previously been threatened with an acid attack. His attempts to reach the Daily Mail editor-in-chief by phone were unsuccessful. 'They could have published the piece without revealing my location. That is not journalism, that is putting us in danger,' he said.
Private investigators and calls to journalists
The court heard that Robinson hired a private investigator to obtain the journalists' phone numbers and email addresses, and asked investigators to obtain photographs of the journalists and their family members. He called Andrew Young, the reporter who found him in Cyprus, to demand the removal of the photo of his ex-wife. 'I said: you will not get away from this problem. I will ask you these questions — you put my children in danger,' he told the court. He also said he wanted to 'find the journalists on camera' and ask how he had 'incited race riots'. He said he considered his actions 'entirely reasonable... in the circumstances', and denied intending to expose the journalists to threats of violence.
Journalists' evidence
Young told the court in a written statement that during the call Robinson told him: 'I'm coming for you.' He said that after the defendant posted on X photographs of his wife and daughter outside their home with their faces cropped, he had to hire private security. Dirnhuber, in a statement read to the jury, said that after Robinson published a photo of him outside his home, he left his home for a week, fearing a 'vigilante attack'. Robinson denies both charges; the trial continues.
Image source, James Manning/PA Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court
Image source, Elizabeth Cook/PA Robinson told the court he wanted to find the Daily Mail journalists and question them about an article
Image source, Jack Taylor/Reuters Tommy Robinson denies the charges of harassment causing fear of violence against two Daily Mail journalists
