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Political activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has appeared at Southwark Crown Court to give evidence regarding allegations that he hired private detectives to track and photograph two Daily Mail journalists. Robinson, aged 43 and from Bedfordshire, told the court that he took these steps to place pressure on the reporters after feeling “shocked and scared” by a Daily Mail article which accused him of “stoking race riots from his sunbed.” He has denied two counts of harassment causing fear of violence directed at journalists Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber, following the riots in Southport in 2024.
During the court proceedings, Robinson explained that at the time of the riots, he was on holiday with his ex-wife, his three children, and three other families at the Atlantica Mare resort in Cyprus. He insisted that rather than inciting the unrest, he aimed to “calm” the situation. The accusations against him center on his alleged actions on the social media platform X, where it is claimed he posted content, sent direct messages, and made phone calls that caused the journalists to fear vigilantism. Robinson denied any intention to expose the reporters to threats, describing his conduct as “totally reasonable… under the circumstances.”
Robinson expressed deep distress over the Daily Mail’s reporting, which he said endangered his family’s safety by publishing his holiday location alongside an image of his wife. He described the impact as terrifying, stating, “I’m scared because the Mail Online is the biggest publication in the world,” and recounting how his 12-year-old daughter had received rape threats, and his ex-wife had previously faced an acid attack threat. After the story appeared, Robinson said he and his family relocated within the hotel following security advice and that he attempted unsuccessfully to contact the Daily Mail’s editor-in-chief to request the removal of his family’s pictures from the report.
The court also heard that Robinson engaged private investigators to obtain contact details for the journalists. He admitted calling Andrew Young to demand the removal of his ex-wife’s images and accused the journalist of endangering his children. Robinson said he wanted to confront the reporters “on camera” about how they were portraying him as inciting riots. The journalists, meanwhile, told the court they had resorted to security measures after Robinson posted images on social media, including pictures of their family members, near their homes. One of the journalists said he left his house for a week due to fears of a vigilante attack. During cross-examination, Robinson maintained he did not intend to cause fear and argued that the reporters were “scared of humiliation” rather than physical violence. The trial is ongoing
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