British far-right activist Tommy Robinson was found guilty by a London court on Wednesday of harassing two journalists and causing them to fear violence, following a dispute over newspaper coverage of his activities during the anti-immigration riots that swept parts of Britain in August 2024.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was charged last year with harassing Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber, both of whom were working for the Daily Mail at the time. He denied the allegations.
The judge overseeing the case announced that Robinson would be sentenced on December 16.
The charges arose from events during the widespread unrest that followed a deadly stabbing attack at a children’s dance class in northwest England in July 2024. Three girls were killed and eight other children were injured in the attack.
False information about the attacker’s identity and background circulated rapidly on social media, including claims that he was a Muslim immigrant. The attacker was actually a British citizen born in Wales to Christian parents originally from Rwanda.
As anti-immigration demonstrations escalated into violence, Robinson repeatedly posted messages about the attack and subsequent riots on Telegram and X.
In one message, he described the rioters as “justified in their anger”. In another, he urged supporters to mobilise, writing: “Get there and show your support. People need to rise up.”
The unrest saw attacks on mosques and accommodation housing asylum seekers, while dozens of police officers were injured during clashes.
On August 5, 2024, the Daily Mail published a front-page report revealing that Robinson had been posting messages about the unrest while staying at a luxury resort in Cyprus.
The article, headlined “Stoking Race Riots From His Sunbed”, featured a photograph of Robinson reclining on a sun lounger. It also included an image of his former wife and references to his children, who were accompanying him on the trip.
During the trial, Robinson acknowledged that he had hired private investigators after the article appeared, instructing them to locate and photograph the two journalists and their families.
He told the court that his intention was to “put pressure” on the journalists following the newspaper’s publication of details about his family and holiday arrangements.
Robinson maintained that he had been deeply distressed by the coverage, particularly the inclusion of photographs and information that could identify where his family was staying.
He said the situation had left him feeling “desperate” and claimed that online threats directed at his daughter had made him feel “sick”.
Despite his explanation, the court found him guilty of harassing the journalists and causing fear of violence.
Robinson will return to court for sentencing on December 16.