Tommy Robinson Trial: Prosecutor Accuses Activist of 'Bullyboy Tactics' Against Journalists

During the closing speeches at his trial, far-right activist Tommy Robinson was accused of acting like a bully and using intimidatory tactics against two journalists. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, faces two charges of harassment causing fear of violence, which he denies.

Prosecutors allege that Robinson retaliated against journalists Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber of the Daily Mail by using private investigators to track them down after an article angered him. The article reportedly stated that Robinson was 'stoking race riots from his sunbed' while he was on holiday in Cyprus.

Ben Holt, the prosecutor, told the jury at London's Southwark Crown Court that Robinson 'didn’t care’ how the two alleged victims felt and argued that the defendant had ‘threatened people and acted like a bully.’ Holt described a video posted by Robinson, which mentioned 'Men's Rules' applying to anyone who endangered his family, as a threat intended to put the recipients in fear of violence. He urged the jury not to let Robinson 'live in a vigilante world.'

Robinson testified that he was angered by the Mail's report. The court heard that he sent Mr. Dirnhuber a message stating, 'I'll be knocking on your door,' and called Mr. Young, swearing and shouting, claiming he had researched Mr. Young's family and declaring, 'I'm coming to get you.' A voicemail left on the mobile phone of the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Mail, identifying as 'Tommy Robinson,' also allegedly stated, 'I've already located every f***ing one of you.'

The events in question date back to the aftermath of an incident in Southport on July 29, 2024. Robinson was on holiday in Cyprus with family and friends when he made a series of social media posts. The court heard that there was considerable unrest in the UK at the time, with some believing Robinson was inciting action from afar. Robinson has a significant following on X, with one of his posts reportedly viewed 4.7 million times.

Mr. Dirnhuber and his team located Robinson on a sunbed in Cyprus using his mobile phone, an act made possible because Robinson had tweeted his location, according to the prosecutor. While the Mail article did not mention Robinson's ex-wife, it did refer to his children, who were not photographed. The prosecutor noted that Robinson had not requested the article be taken down or amended and only lodged a complaint with the Press regulator, IPSO, more than two years after the incident. Jurors were asked to consider whether Robinson’s response was reasonable, with the prosecution arguing that retaliation is not a defence and that the days of 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth' are long gone.

The court also heard that Robinson has received multiple 'threat to life' warnings from Bedfordshire Police since 2018, related to activists who had obtained his address. This included a video threat in May 2019 and another warning in September 2019 advising him to change his routines and travel with an associate. His car was set alight in 2020, and in August 2024, a video circulated showing a man with an AK47 machine gun making threats against the EDL. The trial continues.