First posted on Instagram
A jury at Southwark Crown Court has found political activist Tommy Robinson guilty on two counts of harassment causing fear of violence, after a trial over social media posts and messages directed at two journalists who reported on his family's holiday in Cyprus.
Robinson, 43, whose full name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was convicted over his treatment of freelance reporter Andrew Young and Daily Mail editor Jacob Dirnhuber. Jurors returned a 10-2 majority verdict on both counts after 11 hours and 25 minutes of deliberation.
The case concerned events in August 2024, during unrest in England following the murders of three girls in Southport. The Daily Mail and MailOnline published a story about Robinson being on holiday in Cyprus while the disorder unfolded, reporting that he was encouraging unrest from his sun lounger. Robinson responded with a series of posts on X, direct messages and a phone call, and hired private investigators to find the home addresses of the journalists and of the Daily Mail's editor-in-chief, Ted Verity.
Prosecutors told the court Robinson used "bully-boy, intimidatory tactics" that left Young and Dirnhuber fearing a vigilante attack, forcing them to leave their homes or employ extra security. Photographs of Dirnhuber outside his home and cropped images of Young's family were posted online, the court heard.
Robinson denied the charges. He told the jury he had panicked and been scared when the Mail published details identifying the hotel near Ayia Napa where he was staying with his family, saying the article had endangered them. He said he had never asked for any image to be taken down — a point prosecutors used against him, arguing he had instead threatened people and acted like a bully.
After the verdicts, Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said Robinson had weaponised social media and subjected the two journalists to a campaign of harassment which caused them serious fear of violence.
Robinson was granted bail ahead of sentencing on December 16. Harassment causing fear of violence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The verdict has drawn criticism from MP Rupert Lowe, who has said Robinson has been treated unfairly, and has fuelled a wider debate over free speech, privacy and where legitimate criticism of journalists ends and criminal harassment begins.