Court plays Tommy Robinson voicemail threatening Mail journalists' families

Jurors at Southwark Crown Court were played a voicemail left in August 2024 by Tommy Robinson for Daily Mail editor Ted Verity in which he said he would make journalists and their families "famous". The Guardian

In the message, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, said: "I've already located every fucking one of you. I've got pictures of everyone here that can go in my story." He said he was prepared to "come knocking" and asked Verity to answer his phone so they could chat.

Robinson, 43, is charged with two counts of harassment causing fear of violence in 2024 against journalists Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber, who worked for the Mail. He denies both charges. Harassment causing fear of violence is a criminal offence in which the alleged conduct is said to make victims fear force will be used against them.

The court heard Robinson became enraged after the Mail published a story about him headlined "Stoking race riots from his sunbed". Prosecutors allege he then targeted the two reporters with a course of conduct intended to frighten them.

Young told the court Robinson had 800,000 followers on X at the time and he feared they might seek revenge on him, his home or his family. Dirnhuber and his partner left their home address after Robinson shared images of the journalist online.

Verity left his home and stayed in a hotel with his dog after Robinson posted a picture of him online, while both reporters feared attacks by Robinson's supporters. The Telegraph Prosecutors alleged Robinson used "bully-boy, intimidatory tactics" against the journalists, who employed security as a result. BBC