Tommy Robinson found guilty of harassing Daily Mail journalists after jurors heard he used 'bully-boy tactics' to intimidate reporters who exposed his UK riots shame

Tommy Robinson has been convicted of 'weaponising social media' to harass two Daily Mail journalists who exposed him stoking race riots in the UK from his sunbed in Cyprus.The former English Defence League leader was convicted by jurors after they heard he used 'bully-boy, intimidatory tactics' to threaten the reporters.The political activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, sent photographers to their addresses and shared images of their homes with millions of social media followers, prosecutors said.Journalists Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber described how they 'feared for their safety' after Robinson, 43, sent a series of posts and direct messages on social media platform X.The court heard Robinson sent Mr Dirnhuber a message saying, 'I'll be knocking on your door,' and when a photo was posted on X of Mr Dirnhuber outside his home, wrote: 'Got ya.'Jurors heard he also phoned Mr Young to tell him: 'I'm coming to get you.'Robinson denied two charges of harassment causing fear of violence and said the journalists would have known he was not 'coming to beat them up'.But Robinson faces a possible jail term of up to ten years after he was convicted by jurors today at Southwark Crown Court. He showed little reaction as the verdicts were returned. Tommy Robinson pictured arriving for his harassment trial at Southwark Crown CourtFrank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's special crime and counter terrorism division, said Robinson 'weaponised social media and subjected two journalists to a campaign of harassment which caused them serious fear of violence'.Speaking following the guilty verdicts, he said: 'The evidence in this case showed that he targeted the victims directly and indirectly through social media and by telephone. He also published images relating not only to them, but also their families.'The jury heard from the victims and witnesses in this case, ultimately deciding that this behaviour crossed the line into criminality.'Nobody should be made to fear violence because of the work they do. Journalists play an important role in a democratic society and should be able to carry out their professional duties without being subjected to harassment.'We will always seek to work with the police to prosecute those who break the law and I hope these convictions provide reassurance that such behaviour will be treated seriously by the criminal justice system.'Prosecutor Ben Holt told jurors how Robinson targeted the journalists after the Mail published a front-page story about him in August 2024.'The jury heard from the victims and witnesses in this case, ultimately deciding that this behaviour crossed the line into criminality.'Nobody should be made to fear violence because of the work they do. Journalists play an important role in a democratic society and should be able to carry out their professional duties without being subjected to harassment.'We will always seek to work with the police to prosecute those who break the law and I hope these convictions provide reassurance that such behaviour will be treated seriously by the criminal justice system.'It had the headline 'Stoking race riots from his sunbed' and was based on unrest in the UK sparked by the murder of three girls in Southport.Mr Holt said Robinson could have complained to Ipso, the independent Press regulator, about the exclusive article.Instead, he 'retaliated', warning: 'You have come for me, I am going to come for you.'Mr Holt told jurors: 'This defendant, using bully-boy, intimidatory tactics, threatened the journalists.'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.'Robinson told police the Daily Mail had identified his hotel in Cyprus and he was 'overrun with news crews taking photos and filming my children', who were 'scared and upset'.Mr Holt said: 'His case is that his family had been put in danger by the actions of the Daily Mail.' Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, denied using 'bully boy' tactics to intimidate the Mail's reportersHowever, no identifiable pictures of his children were published by the Daily Mail.Reporter Mr Dirnhuber was left 'scared to go to my own house' in the wake of Robinson's social media messages, while freelance journalist Mr Young said he felt his family was under threat because of the harassment by Robinson.Mr Dirnhuber said he feared being 'intercepted' by a supporter of Robinson on his way to work, who may have been 'hoping to cause me or my partner physical harm'.He said he and his partner decided to leave their home until security provisions had been put in place – including a doorbell camera and assessing the feasibility of a panic alarm.Mr Young also said he feared the defendant's followers would 'seek revenge on me', and described how Robinson became 'increasingly menacing' after he called his personal number.In a witness statement to the court he said: 'I told him repeatedly that I didn't want to engage with him and he should direct any matters to the Daily Mail legal department.'His tone became increasingly menacing - raising his voice, swearing and shouting.'I kept telling him the same thing which only seemed to make him more angry.' Robinson sent a series of social media messages to the reporters who revealed the former English Defence League leader was stirring up tensions in the UK in August 2024 while on a sun lounger in CyprusMr Young said Robinson 'kept screaming at me' as he told him he had been researching his family.'I told him several times that I regarded what he was saying as threatening behaviour and that I would be reporting it,' the statement said.'He said that he would be coming round to my house to see me and that I would have to move house.'Another journalist, George Odling, said in his witness statement that he, his wife and young child had to leave their home through a neighbour's house because they feared being followed by Robinson's supporters.The court heard Robinson also left a voicemail for Daily Mail editor-in-chief Ted Verity, and said he would make him and his family famous.Robinson admitted he 'panicked' when posting pictures of the Mail journalists.The court heard the activist hired private investigators to take photographs of the home addresses of Mr Dirnhuber and Mr Young, saying: 'I wanted to find the journalists,' in order to 'put pressure on them'.He denied the investigators were 'designed to intimidate them', adding: 'That was not my intention at all, my intention was to remove the fear and remove the immediate danger to my family.'He said he wanted to track down the journalists who wrote the Daily Mail story about him to 'question them on camera' but did not want to cause any harm to their families.Prosecutor Mr Holt put it to Robinson that the reporters were 'scared of you'.Robinson replied: 'They are not scared of physical violence from me.'He added that the journalists were instead scared of 'humiliation' from him questioning them.Robinson's supporters in the public gallery let out sighs of disappointment as the verdicts were given to the court.Robinson, who was wearing a navy suit with what appeared to be American flags on the back of his waistcoat, sat down and shook his head quietly as the judge addressed the jury after verdicts.The jurors deliberated for 11 hours and 25 minutes.Robinson, who has previous convictions for violence, fraud and contempt of court, was granted bail and will be sentenced on December 16.