Tommy Robinson Convicted of Harassing Daily Mail Journalists
Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson) has been found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of harassing two MailOnline journalists causing fear of violence.
Far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, has been convicted of harassment causing fear of violence following a trial at Southwark Crown Court.
The 43-year-old defendant was found guilty by a majority verdict of 10 to 2 after targeting two MailOnline journalists, investigative reporter Andrew Young and editor Jacob Dirnhuber.
The court heard Yaxley-Lennon hired private investigators to track down the home addresses of the journalists after MailOnline published an article on 4 August 2024 depicting him on holiday in Cyprus during widespread public unrest following the Southport murders.
Following his conviction, the defendant was granted bail and will be sentenced on 16 December.
Jurors rejected the defendant's claim that the published article had placed his family in danger and that his own actions had been reasonable, finding that his actions amounted to a campaign of harassment causing fear of violence.
The prosecution detailed how Yaxley-Lennon instructed private detectives to obtain residential details for both journalists, as well as Daily Mail editor-in-chief Ted Verity.
Evidence presented during the trial established that the defendant subsequently posted photographs of Mr Dirnhuber outside his address on social media platform X, alongside cropped images of Mr Young's family members.
During a telephone call made the day after the article was published, Yaxley-Lennon told Mr Young, "I'm coming to get you," while sending a direct message to Mr Dirnhuber stating, "I'll be knocking at your door." In a video message published on X directed at both journalists, the defendant claimed he was "giving a warning" and stated, "I'm not coming to beat [them] up. They know that."
Giving evidence from the witness box, Yaxley-Lennon admitted seeking to put "pressure" on the journalists but denied that hiring private investigators was intended to intimidate them.
The impact of the harassment required the Daily Mail to assign a close protection officer to safeguard Mr Young, while Mr Dirnhuber was forced to relocate from his home. The jury deliberated on the charges before returning majority guilty verdicts, concluding the criminal proceedings ahead of the upcoming sentencing hearing.
