The far-right activist known as Tommy Robinson used “bullyboy, intimidatory tactics” to threaten journalists and cause them to fear for their safety, a court has been told as his harassment trial got under way.
Robinson, 42, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is charged with two counts of harassment causing fear of violence to two MailOnline reporters, Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber. He denies all charges.
Robinson is accused of harassment causing fear of violence through X posts and direct messages, and an alleged telephone call on 5 August 2024 in which he is accused of telling Young he would visit his house, saying: “I’m coming to get you.”
In one of the messages Robinson is accused of sending Dirnhuber, he allegedly wrote: “I’ll be knocking at your door.”
Opening the case for the prosecution on Monday, the barrister Ben Holt told the jury Robinson could have chosen to complain to a press regulator after the Mail reported on him in the context of what was seen as his role as an “influencer” with a hand in encouraging the violence which broke out after the Southport murders.
The paper’s coverage included photos of Robinson reclining on a sunlounger, a phone in hand, while on holiday in Cyprus, where a team from the Daily Mail had located him. Members of the jury were shown an image of a Daily Mail front page which included a photo of Robinson and the headline: “Stoking Race Riots from his Sunbed.”
“This trial is about the defendant’s reaction to this, what he perceived to be, unnecessary intrusion into his holiday,” said Holt.
“On social media, to millions of followers, he circulated images of their homes. His supporters, followers, got involved, threatening the journalists. Understandably, you might agree, they were scared, in some circumstances being forced to leave their homes.
“That is what this trial is actually about. The prosecution say this defendant, using bullyboy, intimidatory tactics, threatened the journalists. He sent photographers to their home addresses. He put pictures, albeit redacted, of them out on his timeline on X for the enjoyment and appreciation of his followers.
“And, as a result, the journalists feared for their own personal safety and also for their own family, either being forced to leave home or employ security personnel to watch their home address.”
Holt said Robinson’s case was that his family had been put in danger by the actions of the Daily Mail. “A phrase we will hear a few times in this case: ‘what is good for the goose is good for the gander’,” he added.
Details of the charges were read out to the jury of eight women and three men after they were selected at Southwark crown court. The judge, Mr Justice Cavanagh, told them Robinson was “a political activist and commentator” and that some of the positions he had taken might be regarded as controversial.
The defendant’s political views were not relevant to the case, he said, adding that the jury should also put aside any views they might have about the Daily Mail or MailOnline.
The case continues.
