Tommy Robinson has been convicted of harassing two Daily Mail journalists and causing them to fear violence, following a trial at Southwark Crown Court. The 43-year-old far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on 16 December.
Tommy Robinson has been found guilty of harassing two Daily Mail journalists, Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber, causing them to fear violence. The jury at Southwark Crown Court returned a majority verdict of 10 to 2 after more than 11 hours of deliberation.
The court heard that Robinson was angered by a Daily Mail article in August 2024 reporting that he was on holiday in Cyprus while riots broke out in the UK following the Southport murders. The newspaper's headline, "Stoking race riots from his sunbed", prompted what prosecutors called a retaliatory campaign. Robinson posted on his X account that he would track down the journalists involved, and hired private investigators to obtain their home addresses. He shared photographs of Dirnhuber outside his home and cropped images of Young's family, along with messages such as "I'm coming to get you" during a phone call.
The journalists and their families were forced to leave their homes or hire security out of fear of vigilante attacks. A third Daily Mail journalist, George Odling, also felt compelled to move his family.
Robinson, 43, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, denied the charges. He told the jury he had "panicked" and was "scared" after the Mail published his location, believing it endangered his family. He said he only wanted to "put pressure on" the newspaper and had not intended to cause fear. The jury rejected his account.
He was granted bail ahead of sentencing on 16 December. The judge, Mr Justice Cavanagh, said he was considering all options, including a custodial sentence. The maximum penalty for harassment causing fear of violence is 10 years, or 14 years if racially or religiously aggravated.
Robinson had earlier thanked Elon Musk for funding his legal fees.
The Crown Prosecution Service said Robinson had "weaponised social media" and subjected the journalists to a campaign of harassment. Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said the victims should not have to fear violence for their work.
A Daily Mail spokesperson called the behaviour "reprehensible" and welcomed the verdict, saying Yaxley-Lennon had sought to undermine the paper's right to hold him to account.
The Metropolitan Police said there were "legitimate and established routes" for complaints, and that Robinson's threatening online posts were intended to lead his followers to target the journalists.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The case demonstrates the legal boundaries of online speech, especially when directed at journalists in retaliation for reporting.
- It underscores the real-world consequences of social media harassment campaigns that mobilise large followings.
- The potential prison sentence could serve as a deterrent and influence how platforms handle threats against media workers.
Background
Tommy Robinson, also known as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is a prominent far-right activist and co-founder of the English Defence League. In August 2024, following the murders of three girls in Southport, he posted on social media while on holiday in Cyprus. The Daily Mail published an article about him with the headline "Stoking race riots from his sunbed", which prompted his retaliatory campaign against the journalists involved.
The trial heard that Robinson hired private investigators to obtain the home addresses of journalists, then posted their photos and personal details online, along with threatening messages. The journalists and their families feared for their safety, with some leaving their homes and hiring security.
Key Perspectives
Crown Prosecution Service (Frank Ferguson): called the harassment a "campaign" and said Robinson had "weaponised social media" against the journalists. He stated that "nobody should be made to fear violence because of the work they do".
Daily Mail spokesperson: described Yaxley-Lennon's behaviour as "reprehensible" and said it had "grave consequences for our reporters and their families". The paper stated that it stands by its journalists' "freedom to report legitimately in the public interest".
Metropolitan Police: said there were "legitimate and established routes" for complaints about media treatment, and that Robinson instead issued "threatening online posts in the knowledge that they would almost certainly lead to his followers to target and intimidate those journalists".
Tommy Robinson (as presented to the court): denied intending to cause fear, saying he "panicked" and felt "scared" after the Mail published what he believed endangered his family. He told the jury he had hired investigators to "put pressure on" the newspaper, not to intimidate the journalists personally.
What to Watch
- The sentencing hearing on 16 December, where the judge will decide between a custodial or suspended sentence.
- Wider reaction, including from Elon Musk who funded Robinson's legal fees.
- Implications for how UK law treats online harassment by public figures with large followers.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTommy Robinson was found guilty of harassing two Daily Mail journalists and causing them to fear violence.The Independent UK: “Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been warned he could face jail after being found guilty of harassing two journalists from the Daily Mail and causing them to fear violence”
- Partly supportedThe campaign forced both reporters from their homes.BBC News: “forcing them to employ security or leave home”
- SupportedRobinson told Andrew Young, “I'm coming to get you.”BBC News: “telling the freelance journalist: “I'm coming to get you.””
- SupportedBen Holt said Robinson used “bully-boy, intimidatory tactics.”BBC News: “The court had heard how Robinson, from Bedfordshire, used “bully-boy, intimidatory tactics””
- SupportedFrank Ferguson said Robinson had “weaponised social media and subjected two journalists to a campaign of harassment which caused them serious fear of violence.”BBC News: “said Robinson had “weaponised social media and subjected two journalists to a campaign of harassment which caused them serious fear of violence””
- SupportedA Met Police spokesperson said Robinson issued threatening online posts that would almost certainly lead his followers to target and intimidate the journalists.BBC News: “Robinson had issued “threatening online posts in the knowledge that they would almost certainly lead to his followers to target and intimidate those journalists””
- SupportedA majority jury convicted Robinson of two counts of harassment causing fear of violence.The Independent UK: “finding Robinson guilty by a majority of 10 jurors to two of both charges of harassment causing fear of violence.”
- Reports differRobinson’s real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.The Independent UK: “Robinson, 43, who told his trial his full name is Stephen Lennon”
- SupportedSentencing is scheduled for 16 December.BBC News: “Robinson was granted bail ahead of his sentencing, scheduled for 16 December.”
- SupportedThe case concerned Robinson’s response to an August 2024 article showing him on holiday in Cyprus while riots took place in England following the Southport murders.BBC News: “The case concerned Robinson's response to Daily Mail and Mail Online articles from August 2024, showing him on holiday in Cyprus while riots took place in England following the Southport murders.”
- SupportedRobinson hired private investigators to find the journalists’ home addresses.The Independent UK: “Robinson went on to hire private investigators to find the home addresses of his victims”
- SupportedJurors rejected Robinson’s claim that the Daily Mail had endangered his family by publishing the story.BBC News: “Jurors rejected Robinson's claim that the Daily Mail had endangered his family by publishing the story.”