The jury trying the case of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, who is accused of harassing two journalists and causing them to fear violence, has retired to consider its verdicts.
The 43-year-old, who gave his full name to Southwark Crown Court as Stephen Lennon, is alleged to have harassed freelance journalist Andrew Young and Daily Mail editor Jacob Dirnhuber in August 2024.
Robinson is alleged to have acted as a “bully” by hiring private investigators to find the addresses of the complainants, before posting pictures of Mr Dirnhuber outside his home and cropped images of Mr Young’s family members on his X account.
Prosecutor Ben Holt previously told the court the defendant “threatened” the journalists after what he perceived to be “an unnecessary intrusion into his holiday”.
He is accused of telling Mr Young “I’m coming to get you” during a phone call on August 5 2024, and sending a direct message to Mr Dirnhuber saying: “I’ll be knocking at your door.”
Jurors heard Mr Young was provided with a close protection officer by the Daily Mail, while Mr Dirnhuber had to move house because of the alleged harassment.
Speaking from the witness box during his trial, Robinson said he wanted to put “pressure” on the journalists but denied that hiring the detectives was designed to “intimidate” them.
Robinson, who founded the English Defence League, entered not guilty pleas in July last year to two charges of harassment causing fear of violence.