British far-right activist convicted of harassing journalists

The case followed a report identifying the Cyprus resort where the anti-Muslim agitator was staying with his family during the unrest that followed the fatal stabbing of three young girls.MANCHESTER, England (CN) — A jury on Wednesday convicted the British far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who goes by Tommy Robinson, of two counts of harassment causing fear of violence in a case involving two MailOnline journalists who said his messages and social media posts made them fear violence.Yaxley-Lennon, 43, denied the charges at Southwark Crown Court in London, saying he wanted to confront the reporters over an article that disclosed the location of his family’s holiday in Cyprus, not threaten them or encourage others to harm them.The case centered on whether Yaxley-Lennon’s conduct toward the reporters crossed the line from protesting against a news story into harassment that caused fear of violence.Yaxley-Lennon founded the English Defence League in 2009 and left the group in 2013.The organization held street demonstrations against what it described as Islamist extremism and has been characterized by researchers as an anti-Islam street-protest organization.Dispute over holiday reportThe case followed a MailOnline article published Aug. 4, 2024, identifying an all-inclusive resort in Cyprus where Yaxley-Lennon was staying with his ex-wife, their three children and other families.The article appeared as Britain faced violent anti-immigrant protests following the Southport attack, in which three young girls were fatally stabbed.Yaxley-Lennon had left the U.K. for Spain on July 28, the day before the attack, and traveled to Cyprus on Aug. 3 for a holiday he said had been planned more than a year earlier.Prosecutor Ben Holt told jurors that Yaxley-Lennon targeted reporters Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber with messages, phone calls and social media posts between Aug. 5 and 7, 2024.During a phone call to Young on Aug. 5, Yaxley-Lennon said, “I’m coming to get you,” according to the prosecution. In a message to Dirnhuber, he wrote, “I’ll be knocking at your door,” Holt said.Yaxley-Lennon also posted a photograph of Dirnhuber outside his home alongside a message identifying him as one of the journalists involved in the Cyprus report.Prosecutors said the post was viewed at least 4.7 million times.In another video posted to X, he said he had found the addresses of three journalists and warned, “I will find you.”Yaxley-Lennon has more than 2 million followers on X, prosecutors said, raising concerns about the potential reach of his posts.Young’s family found a gray Audi parked outside their home after the reporter returned from Cyprus on Aug. 6, the court heard. A man was sitting inside the car, and Young’s daughter confronted him. The family also reported seeing a man pointing a camera toward their home.Dirnhuber noticed a car outside his home after Young told him about the incident.Following threatening messages from social media users, Dirnhuber left his home with his partner and dog.A Daily Mail security contractor helped install a doorbell camera and assess whether a panic alarm was needed, jurors heard.A third journalist involved in the original reporting, George Odling, left his family home for four days because of concerns about his safety, Holt said.Robinson’s defenseYaxley-Lennon told jurors he was shocked and scared when he discovered the article had revealed his family’s location.He said hotel staff asked him to remain in his room and that his family was “having a literal breakdown.”He said he wanted to confront the journalists on camera and challenge their reporting, not harm them or their families.He acknowledged sharing an image of Dirnhuber on X to put pressure on him but said he had not considered what the journalist might be exposed to as a result.“I’m not coming to beat you up. They know that,” Yaxley-Lennon said during his testimony.He also denied encouraging other social media users to threaten or abuse the reporters, saying their responses were beyond his control.Judge John Cavanagh told prospective jurors to put aside any views they held about Yaxley-Lennon, his political activities or the Daily Mail and MailOnline.The latest trial adds to a string of previous convictions for Yaxley-Lennon.He received an 18-month prison sentence in 2024 for contempt of court in a libel case involving a Syrian refugee and has been convicted over the years for assault causing actual bodily harm, using a false passport, mortgage fraud and drug possession.Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads