Two journalists told Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday that they feared violence from supporters of Tommy Robinson after alleged harassment by the political activist in August 2024. Jacob Dirnhuber, an editor at the Daily Mail and MailOnline, and freelance journalist Andrew Young had their witness statements read to the court.
Mr Dirnhuber said he was “scared to go to my own house” and feared being “intercepted” by a Robinson supporter on his way to work who may have been “hoping to cause me or my partner physical harm”. Mr Young said he feared the defendant’s followers would “seek revenge on me” following stories about Robinson being in Cyprus during unrest after three girls were murdered in Southport.
Alleged harassment on X
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of harassment causing fear of violence. He is accused of harassing the journalists through posts and direct messages on social media platform X, and an alleged telephone call on August 5 2024, in which he is accused of telling Mr Young he would visit his house, saying: “I’m coming to get you.”
One direct message Robinson is accused of sending Mr Dirnhuber on the same day allegedly said: “I’ll be knocking at your door.” The court previously heard Robinson used “bully-boy, intimidatory tactics” to frighten the journalists.
Impact on the journalists
Prosecutor Ben Holt read Mr Dirnhuber’s statement, which said: “I have been a journalist for about 10 years and during all that time nothing quite like this has ever happened to me.” He described feeling scared to go out in public and to his own house, and said he was aware “every time I step out of my front door that there is a risk of a vigilante attack”.
Mr Dirnhuber said the Daily Mail felt it “could legitimately report on his activity” while Robinson was in Cyprus, but the newspaper did not publish identifiable images of his children. After Robinson tweeted a picture of him, Mr Dirnhuber and his partner left their home and stayed in a hotel at the Mail’s expense until security arrangements were made, later moving to a location outside London.
Mr Young’s statement described Robinson becoming “increasingly menacing” during a phone call, raising his voice, swearing and shouting. Robinson allegedly threatened to “doxx” Mr Young’s family by publishing pictures online and said he would come to his house. Mr Young said he feared violence from Robinson’s 800,000 followers on X, who “might have been tempted to seek revenge on me, or my home, or my family for what I had written”.
The trial, expected to last five days, continues.
