Jury Finds Tommy Robinson Guilty of Harassing Journalists

London (GNP): British activist Tommy Robinson has been convicted of harassing two journalists and causing them to fear violence. The verdict followed a trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Robinson, 43, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was found guilty on both charges by a majority of 10 jurors to two. The jury deliberated for 11 hours and 25 minutes.

The case began with a newspaper report that accused Robinson of stoking riots from a sunbed during the unrest in Britain in August 2024. That unrest followed the murders of three girls in Southport. Robinson was holidaying in Cyprus at the time and had posted a series of social media messages about events at home, which led the newspaper to send freelance journalist Andrew Young and a photographer to the island.

After the report appeared, Robinson criticised Young and newspaper editor Jacob Dirnhuber on his X account over their part in it. Prosecutors said he then hired private investigators to find the home addresses of both men and of the paper’s editor-in-chief, Ted Verity.

Prosecutors argued that the aim was to intimidate. They described Robinson as a “bully” and told the jury that the journalists had to take security precautions because they feared a vigilante attack.

The jury accepted that case. The court heard that Robinson posted photographs of Dirnhuber outside his home and cropped images of Young’s family on social media.

Prosecutor Ben Holt told the court that Young was given a close-protection officer after photographs of his wife and children appeared on Robinson’s X account. Dirnhuber was forced to move home, while colleague George Odling also felt compelled to leave his family home over concerns about the publicity.

Also Read: Spain Train Collision Kills 68 as Rescuers Search Wreckage

The court also heard that Verity gave police a voicemail in which Robinson allegedly said he had already located every one of them.

Robinson denied the allegations during the trial. He claimed the newspaper’s report had put his own family in danger, and he became emotional in the witness box when speaking about his children. Before the trial began, he thanked Elon Musk on X for helping fund his legal fees.

He has been granted bail, and sentencing is scheduled for December 16. The jury also heard how the pressure on Young escalated in a telephone call on August 5, 2024. Robinson told him, “I’m coming to get you.”