Jury convicts English Defence League founder by 10–2 majority at Southwark Crown Court; sentencing set for 16 December
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of harassing two Daily Mail journalists, causing them to fear violence. The jury deliberated for 11 hours and 25 minutes.
Robinson, 43, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and who gave his name to the court as Stephen Lennon, was convicted on both counts by a majority of 10 to 2. He had denied the charges. He was granted bail and will be sentenced on 16 December.
The verdicts follow our report yesterday that the jury had retired to consider its verdicts.
The victims were freelance reporter Andrew Young and Daily Mail editor Jacob Dirnhuber. Robinson was charged with two counts of harassment causing fear of violence and pleaded not guilty in July 2025.
The case arose from the disorder of August 2024 that followed the Southport murders. MailOnline published a story claiming Robinson was stoking the riots “from his sunbed” while on holiday in Cyprus. Robinson responded by attacking Young and Dirnhuber on X.
Prosecutor Ben Holt told the court Robinson hired private investigators to find the journalists’ home addresses, and those of Daily Mail editor-in-chief Ted Verity. He posted a photograph of Dirnhuber outside his home and cropped images of Young’s family members on X. Holt described him as a “bully”.
The jury heard that in a phone call on 5 August 2024, Robinson told Young: “I’m coming to get you.” He messaged Dirnhuber that he would be knocking at his door, and left Verity a voicemail saying he had located everyone at the paper.
The harassment had a lasting impact. The Daily Mail provided Young with a close protection officer. Dirnhuber moved house, and Daily Mail correspondent George Odling also left his family home.
Giving evidence, Robinson said he wanted to put “pressure” on the journalists. He denied that hiring private investigators was meant to intimidate them, and claimed the Daily Mail had put his own family in danger by publishing its story. The jury rejected his account.
Harassment causing fear of violence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. Robinson was granted bail and will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on 16 December.
The conduct proven in court, tracking down home addresses, posting images of family members, and telling a journalist “I’m coming to get you” shows how online campaigns can spill into real-world intimidation. The case grew out of the August 2024 disorder, during which mosques, Muslim-owned businesses and asylum accommodation were targeted.
A Tell MAMA spokesperson said: “Journalists must be free to report without being hunted down at their homes or seeing their families’ images used to intimidate them. Today’s verdict sends a clear message that threats and harassment, whether delivered online or by phone, have real consequences.
“The summer of 2024 showed how quickly online agitation can turn into violence on our streets, and Muslim communities felt that fear directly as mosques and homes were targeted. We thank the journalists for giving evidence and the jury for its careful work, and we will continue to support anyone who is targeted by hate, intimidation or abuse.”