Tommy Robinson convicted of harassment

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LONDON: A London jury found far-right activist Tommy Robinson guilty on Wednesday of harassing two journalists in the latest criminal conviction for the controversial anti-immigration figurehead.

Jurors at Southwark Crown Court in the British capital convicted Robinson — whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon — by majorities of 10 to two on two harassment counts, after deliberating for 11 hours and 25 minutes.

The 43-year-old, who remains on bail, will be sentenced on Dec 16 and could face up to 10 years in prison, under UK harassment law. One of Britain’s best known far-right activists with a large online following, he already boasts a string of criminal convictions, including for assault, fraud and contempt of court, and has served multiple jail terms previously.

The latest case concerns Robinson’s actions towards two journalists — freelance reporter Andrew Young and a Daily Mail editor Jacob Dirnhuber — amid nationwide unrest in 2024 that followed the murders of three girls in Southport, northwest England.

He had posted a series of social media messages online about the unfolding situation while on holiday in Cyprus, prompting the Mail to send Young and a photographer to the island. After the tabloid published a story about him “stoking riots from his sunbed”, Robinson was accused of harassing the two journalists through his X account.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2026

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