LONDON: British far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been convicted of harassing two journalists and causing them to fear violence, following a trial at Southwark Crown Court.
The 43-year-old activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was found guilty by a majority of 10 jurors to two on both charges after the jury deliberated for 11 hours and 25 minutes.
Prosecutors described Robinson as a “bully”, arguing that freelance journalist Andrew Young and Daily Mail editor Jacob Dirnhuber were forced to take security precautions, with one moving home, because of fears of a possible vigilante attack.
The case stemmed from Robinson’s reaction to a report published by the Daily Mail and its sister publication, MailOnline, accusing him of “stoking riots from his sunbed” during unrest in Britain in August 2024.
So Tommy Robinson has been found guilty of “harassing Daily Mail journalists” he could get up to 10 years in prison.
This don’t sit right with me, first Danny Tommo who was down on the beachers trying to stop illegals and now Tommy…
Feels like this is being done to take out anyone who opposes Labours migrant invasion of the UK
What do you think? https://t.co/aeQFXCAn3H
— 𝔾𝕣𝕚𝕗𝕥𝕪 (@TheGNPE) October 28, 2026
The unrest followed the murders of three girls in Southport. Robinson, who was holidaying in Cyprus at the time, posted a series of messages on social media about the unfolding situation, prompting the newspaper to send Young and a photographer to the island.
Following publication of the report, Robinson criticised Young and Dirnhuber on his X account over their involvement in the article.
He subsequently hired private investigators to identify the home addresses of the two journalists and Ted Verity, the Daily Mail’s editor-in-chief.
The prosecution argued that the move was intended to intimidate the journalists. The jury accepted its case, which included evidence that Robinson had posted photographs of Dirnhuber outside his home and cropped images of Young’s family on social media.
The court also heard that Robinson’s conduct towards Young became increasingly threatening during a telephone conversation on August 5, 2024, when he told the freelance journalist: “I’m coming to get you.”
Prosecutor Ben Holt told the court that Young had been provided with a close-protection officer by the Daily Mail after photographs of his wife and children appeared on Robinson’s X account.
Dirnhuber was forced to move home because of the harassment, while Daily Mail correspondent George Odling also became concerned about the publicity surrounding his colleagues and felt compelled to leave his family home.
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Verity provided police with evidence of a voicemail from Robinson in which the activist allegedly said: “I’ve already located every f** one of you.”
During the trial, Robinson rejected the allegations and claimed that the newspaper’s report had put his family in danger.
He became emotional in the witness box while discussing his relationship with his children.
Robinson, who has frequently made allegations against Muslims and Pakistanis, thanked Tesla owner Elon Musk on X for helping fund his legal fees before the trial began. He was granted bail pending sentencing, which is scheduled for December 16.
