FACES OF HATRED
Tommy Robinson supporters attack police and set off smoke bombs as he is jailed for jeopardising child sex grooming trial
A MOB of Tommy Robinson’s supporters marched on Parliament, setting off smoke bombs and attacking police, after the far-Right activist was jailed yesterday.
The shocking scenes of violence erupted after Robinson was handed nine months in prison for breaking court rules.
The English Defence League founder, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, winked at supporters at the Old Bailey as he was sentenced.
Robinson, 36, jeopardised a child sex grooming trial last May by flouting a reporting ban to broadcast footage of defendants entering Leeds Crown Court.
Yesterday he was locked up for ‘reckless disobedience of an important court order’ and encouraging ‘vigilante action’.
But he will only be behind bars for nineand a-half weeks because of the time he has already served.
A large crowd reacted angrily to the sentence, pelting police with drinks bottles and cans as they chanted: ‘We want Tommy out.’ Protesters then marched to Parliament, setting off smoke bombs and burning European Union flags.
Robinson further stoked the violence, using instant messaging service Telegram shortly before his sentencing, to call for a demonstration outside the prison where he was being taken saying: ‘Hopefully by this Saturday, I’m laying there in my cell and I can just hear all your voices outside whichever s******* HMP I’m in.’
To the fury of judges, Robinson spent so long addressing his supporters outside court that he was ten minutes late for the sentencing. High Court judge Dame Victoria Sharp, sitting with Mr Justice Warby, branded Robinson a liar and said he should be sent to prison for ‘ punishment and deterrence’.
During the offending 90-minute video live streamed on Facebook, Robinson approached defendants accused of the sexual exploitation of young girls in Huddersfield and encouraged followers to harass them – in defiance of a court reporting ban to protect future linked trials.
Robinson appeared nonplussed as he was sentenced. His barrister raised the possibility that he would appeal against the court’s decision. After the hearing, supporters shouted ‘We love you, Tommy!’ as his prison van left the building.
He was found in contempt after an extraordinary two-day hearing last week when supporters were given permission to turn the Old Bailey into a stage, erecting a video screen the length of a double decker bus in the street outside the court.
To the outrage of lawyers, courtgoers and local businesses, the City of London Corporation granted permission for the giant platform, complete with a podium for Robinson to spout his views in front of a 150-strong crowd on the hearing’s first day.
During the case, violence frequently erupted outside court and police arrested eight protestors aged 28 to 61 for affray and public order offences.
Attorney General Geoffrey Cox QC who brought fresh proceedings after Robinson successfully appealed against an earlier contempt ruling, said: ‘The sentencing of Yaxley-Lennon serves to illustrate how seriously the courts will take matters of contempt. Posting material online that breaches reporting restrictions or risks prejudicing legal proceedings has consequences.’
Nick Lowles, of campaugn group Hope Not Hate, said Robinson ‘put at risk the trial of men accused of horrendous crimes. He doesn’t care about the victims of grooming.’
Ian Murray of the Society of Editors said it was a ‘farce’ that Robinson wore a t-shirt saying ‘convicted of journalism’ as he entered court.
He said: ‘I am not aware that Robinson has any formal training as a journalist.
‘Sadly there are people who wish to see the UK media emasculated and these sorts of claims are so obviously unfounded they provide ammunition to attack us with.’
‘Men accused of horrendous crimes’