Robinson’s rabble
Far-Right mob turns out for former EDL chief’s trial
THE far-Right leader known as Tommy Robinson was mobbed by supporters outside court yesterday as he was warned he could be jailed again.
Hundreds chanted his name and waved Union flags as he was ushered into the Old Bailey amid a sizeable police presence.
Protesters from a smaller counter-demonstration carried placards saying ‘Oppose Tommy Robinson’ and branded him a racist.
The former leader of the English Defence League, who was referred to by his real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon throughout the hearing, accused the authorities of plotting to get him in jail for Christmas after his latest skirmish with the law.
He faces prosecution for contempt of court after videos he put online were said to have endangered criminal trials.
He was earlier jailed for 10 months for filming people involved in a trial in Leeds and posting the footage on social media.
Yaxley-Lennon was released last month after three appeal judges quashed the finding made at Leeds Crown Court and granted him conditional bail.
He could be sent back to jail for up to two years. When he was locked up in May he was already serving a threemonth suspended sentence for another contempt conviction.
Earlier today, the activist posted a video online in which he branded the case a ‘crock of s***’.
Speaking after the hearing Yaxley-Lennon, 35, criticised the justice system, saying the case had already faced several delays. He said: ‘I believe they want me in prison for Christmas. I’m being specifically targeted for who I am.’
The case was adjourned and Yaxley-Lennon was ordered to return to the Old Bailey next month.
Later, City of London Police confirmed they are investigating a video apparently filmed inside the courthouse before the hearing. The footage was posted online by a member of the Rebel Media group, which is closely linked to Yaxley-Lennon. In it, the far-right activist looks out of a window at his chanting supporters and says: ‘That’s such a good feeling.’ Within hours the video had been viewed 190,000 times. It is a criminal offence to take photographs within court precincts.
A police spokesman said: ‘We have been made aware of a video on social media which appears to show filming taking place inside the Central Criminal Court. We will be looking into whether any offences have been committed.’
‘They want me in prison for Christmas’