Far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for contempt of court. The sentence was handed down at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday after he admitted breaching a High Court injunction by repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee.
Mr Justice Johnson stated that Robinson's breaches were 'flagrant' and carried out in a 'sophisticated' manner to achieve 'maximum coverage,' reaching tens of millions of people. The judge emphasised that 'nobody is above the law' and noted that Robinson had shown no remorse, with no realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
Robinson's contempt involved 10 breaches of a 2021 High Court order, which stemmed from a libel case lost to Jamal Hijazi. Hijazi had been filmed being attacked at a school in West Yorkshire, and Robinson falsely claimed in Facebook videos that Hijazi was 'not innocent and he violently attacks young English girls in his school.' These false claims were repeated in interviews and a film titled 'Silenced,' which was viewed millions of times after being shared by figures including Andrew Tate.
The court heard that Robinson aired the film during a rally in Trafalgar Square on 27 July. The solicitor general, Sarah Sackman, said: 'Those who breach court orders risk finding themselves in contempt of court. The sentence issued by the judge today confirms that no one should consider themselves above the rule of law.'
Robinson was ordered to pay costs of £80,350.82. The judge allowed for a reduction of four months if Robinson removes the false claims from social media accounts he controls. He remains subject to the injunction after release and could face further sanctions for future breaches.
The anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate, which compiled a dossier on the breaches, stated: 'Today's verdict proves that even Lennon's actions have consequences and goes some way to delivering justice for Jamal Hijazi.'
