Tommy Robinson denies harassment charges as court hears threat claims

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, 42, known as Tommy Robinson, denies two charges of harassment causing fear of violence against MailOnline journalists Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber over incidents in 2024.

Southwark Crown Court heard that Robinson threatened to publish details about Young's family and warned they would have to move home. The alleged threats came in a telephone call after Young tracked Robinson down to Cyprus, and a recording of Young responding to the call was played to the court. The Guardian

Prosecutors said Robinson became enraged after the Mail published a story about him headlined "Stoking race riots from his sunbed." Prosecutor Ben Holt told the court the case concerned Robinson's reaction to what he perceived as "an unnecessary intrusion into his holiday."

Young told the court he received a call from a man introducing himself as Tommy Robinson who became "increasingly menacing, swearing and shouting." While Young was still in Cyprus, his home address was posted on X on 5 August 2024 by an anonymous account with the words "please be sure to congratulate him."

In a statement, Young said unknown men began appearing outside his home and outside the home of another journalist working with him. He said Robinson had 800,000 followers on X at the time and he feared they might seek revenge on him, his home or his family. He also said his daughter was shouted at by two men in a car and believed she was photographed while out walking days after the article about Robinson in Cyprus was published.

The court heard that Dirnhuber, his partner and their dog left their home address after Robinson posted images of the journalist online. Robinson allegedly messaged Dirnhuber photographs of an unknown woman and threatened to visit a journalist's home, according to prosecutors. The BBC

Prosecutors allege Robinson used "bully-boy, intimidatory tactics" to frighten the two men, and that his posts about the journalists were viewed millions of times. They said the alleged intimidation forced the journalists to employ security or leave home. The Telegraph

The court was told Robinson was given a stalking ban in March 2021 after threatening a journalist, and was given a five-year stalking protection order in October 2021 after shouting abuse outside a journalist's home and making threats.