British far-right activist defends messages to journalists in harassment trial

MANCHESTER, England (CN) — A London jury Thursday heard prosecutors challenge Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who uses the name Tommy Robinson, over his account of messages and social media posts directed at two MailOnline journalists who revealed where he was staying on a family vacation.Yaxley-Lennon denies two counts of harassment causing fear of violence involving Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber, journalists who worked on the MailOnline article published in August 2024.Prosecutors say Yaxley-Lennon threatened the reporters with messages, phone calls and posts that included references to their homes and families.The case tests whether Yaxley-Lennon’s actions crossed the line from protesting against a news story into conduct that caused journalists to fear violence.Yaxley-Lennon says article endangered his familyGiving evidence at Southwark Crown Court, Yaxley-Lennon said he was shocked and scared when he saw the article, which described him as being “on the run” and revealed where he was staying during a family holiday in Cyprus.He told jurors he had left the U.K. for Spain on July 28, 2024, the day before the deadly Southport attack, which left three young girls dead.It subsequently triggered far-right anti-immigrant protests that led to the most violent riots in a decade across the country.Yaxley-Lennon flew to Cyprus on Aug. 3, 2024, for a holiday with his ex-wife, their three children and three other families, saying the trip had been planned for more than a year. He blamed the article for causing distress at the hotel, where staff asked him to remain in his room. He said his family was “having a literal breakdown.”Asked by defense attorney Alisdair Williamson how his notoriety as a national figure affected his relationship with his children, Robinson fell silent before reaching for tissues and wiping tears from his eyes.He said social media users had shared videos naming the hotel and urging people to go there.“This isn’t journalism. This is endangerment, and it added nothing to the story,” Yaxley-Lennon told the court.He said he had repeatedly tried to contact the editor of the Daily Mail before calling Young. He wanted to challenge the journalists over the decision to publish his location and seek the removal of photographs of his ex-wife.Yaxley-Lennon said he wanted to question the journalists on camera, not harm them or their families. “I would find the men on camera and ask them how was I stoking race riots,” he said.He told jurors he had not contacted the Independent Press Standards Organisation, the U.K. press complaints body, because he believed a complaint could take a year to produce action.He also acknowledged sharing an image of Dirnhuber on X to put pressure on him to discuss the article.“I wanted him to come to the table,” Yaxley-Lennon said when asked why he shared the photo on social media.Asked whether he had considered the potential consequences for the journalist, Yaxley-Lennon said he had not really thought about what Dirnhuber might be exposed to.Prosecutors challenge Yaxley-Lennon’s accountProsecutor Ben Holt questioned Yaxley-Lennon about messages and posts from August 2024, including statements about finding the journalists and going to their homes.Yaxley-Lennon denied that he had retaliated against the reporters, describing the period as one in which he was desperate and had not slept.Holt asked whether Yaxley-Lennon regretted his conduct.“I regret reading how some people felt at the time,” he replied, adding he had not thought about how others would react to his actions.Earlier this week, the prosecutor told jurors that Young’s family found a gray Audi parked outside their home after the reporter returned from Cyprus on Aug. 6. A man was sitting inside the car, and Young’s daughter confronted him, the court heard.The family also reported seeing a man pointing a camera toward their home.Young feared Yaxley-Lennon’s large online following could lead to retaliation against him or his family.On Thursday, Yaxley-Lennon said photographs of Young’s family had been “a bargaining chip for me, but I would never publish.”Holt pointed to replies to Yaxley-Lennon’s posts in which other users discussed violence against Dirnhuber. He argued that the threats had been generated by Robinson’s online activity.“I don’t agree with any of those messages,” Yaxley-Lennon said. “I’m not encouraging anyone.”The prosecutor also questioned Yaxley-Lennon about a video in which he warned the journalists they would have a “problem” if they did not amend the article. Yaxley-Lennon said he meant a problem involving their wives, but denied intending to threaten them with physical violence.“I’m giving a warning to journalists,” he said. “I’m not coming to beat you up. They know that.”Yaxley-Lennon acknowledged raising his voice during his call with Young, but denied making threats, saying he had been asking questions.When asked whether he challenged the journalists’ claims that his conduct had left them afraid, Yaxley-Lennon said he did not. He said he had not known they were frightened.Yaxley-Lennon pleaded not guilty to both charges last year.Judge John Cavanagh adjourned the trial until Friday.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