British far-right activist jailed for contempt of court

 

FILE PHOTO: Far right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who goes by the name Tommy Robinson, speaks outside 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon was jailed on Thursday for committing contempt of court after he filmed defendants during a trial last year and posted the footage on social media.

 

Minor scuffles erupted outside the Old Bailey court in central London when the sentence was announced, as a group of his supporters, shouting “arrest the judge,” clashed with police in riot gear.

 

Yaxley-Lennon, 36, who goes by the name of Tommy Robinson, was found in contempt last week for breaching a reporting ban by videoing defendants accused of sexually exploiting young girls outside a courthouse in Leeds, northern England, while jurors were still considering their verdicts.

 

“Today’s sentencing of Yaxley-Lennon serves to illustrate how seriously the courts will take matters of contempt,” said Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, the government’s chief legal adviser

Yaxley-Lennon, who arrived at court wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the message “Convicted of Journalism” with the words “Britain = North Korea” on the back, was arrested in May last year for making the video recordings and jailed for 13 months later that day.

 

However he successfully appealed against the conviction and was released. Cox decided to re-start contempt proceedings against him leading to the hearings last week where he was convicted.

 

Judges said he had breached a court order, and his actions, aggressively confronting and filming some of the defendants, had created a substantial risk that “the course of justice in that case would be seriously impeded”.

 

In her ruling, judge Victoria Sharp said that in his video Yaxley-Lennon, who argued he is highlighting cases ignored by mainstream media, “approves and encourages vigilante action” and his viewers would have understood it as “an incitement to engage in harassment of the defendants”.

 

He was jailed for six months for the Leeds contempt and a further three months for a previous contempt of court.

 

Yaxley-Lennon came to public attention as the co-founder of the English Defence League (EDL), a street movement which has staged demonstrations against Islam, and he is now one of Britain’s most high-profile far-right figures.

 

Britain’s former counter-terrorism police chief cited him as a source of growing far-right extremism and the trial of a man found guilty of ramming a van into Muslim worshippers outside a London mosque in 2017 heard he had researched material in which Yaxley-Lennon featured beforehand.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-07-11

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

The irony is that FCO London also staged a Global Conference for Media Freedom today ????

 

 

A nasty piece of work, back where he belongs.

Sent from my SM-A500F using Tapatalk

If you are attempting to bring about reform, it's probably best if you try to stay out of prison...

23 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Britain’s former counter-terrorism police chief cited him as a source of growing far-right extremism and the trial of a man found guilty of ramming a van into Muslim worshippers outside a London mosque in 2017 heard he had researched material in which Yaxley-Lennon featured beforehand.

Raising this point but no being drawn into pointless arguments as in the other similar thread.  His supporters may wish to consider the above statement.

The guy's got ball's to say as it is.  Not like the gutless politicians who are running Great (ha ha) Britain into oblivion.  <deleted> nanny state!

So much for free speech in Britain.

Common criminal suffers the consequences of his own actions.

 

What’s not to like?!

40 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

that in his video Yaxley-Lennon, who argued he is highlighting cases ignored by mainstream media,

That is why mainstream media heavily censor articles about sensitive cases if they report on some at all for fear of the very charges he's been pinned on .. Contempt of Court is considered a serious offence and Robinson should have understood that before doing what he did .. 

He'll have to pay top dollar for his coke now if it's available and watch out for the jihadi gangs inside. Not often I agreee with the saintly Nigel but he couldn't wait to put as much distance between his politics and Yaxley-Lennon's. Smart move. He's coked up to the eyeballs.

 

 

54 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

British far-right activist jailed for contempt of court

Good. 

10 minutes ago, Justgrazing said:

Contempt of Court is considered a serious offence and Robinson should have understood that before doing what he did .. 

And him a 'journalist' as well ????

So much for free speech in Britain.

Free speech? His "free speech" nearly helped a gang of paedophile rapists avoid jail.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

An angry man by  the looks. Wondering if he is  angry at  his incoherence?

say what you will about Tommy, but at least this guy is voicing concerns about the UK that the rest of you  Brits and Euros are too cowed and politic to utter. I'm not saying he's 100% right, but what's the alternative? Your wonderful London mayor and even better immigration policy? 

say what you will about Tommy, but at least this guy is voicing concerns about the UK that the rest of you  Brits and Euros are too cowed and politic to utter. I'm not saying he's 100% right, but what's the alternative? Your wonderful London mayor and even better immigration policy? 

Yes. Far better (for the democratically elected Mayor). As far as British immigration policy is concerned, I agree. The Tories' hostile environment towards immigration, the scandalous visa fees and ridiculous financial requirements for Settlement visas are a national disgrace.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

4 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Yes. Far better (for the democratically elected Mayor). As far as British immigration policy is concerned, I agree. The Tories' hostile environment towards immigration, the scandalous visa fees and ridiculous financial requirements for Settlement visas are a national disgrace.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Yeah, mate , that's the problem with UK immigration, the burdensome requirements for the immigrants. It must be terrible. 

8 minutes ago, OtinPattaya said:

say what you will about Tommy, but at least this guy is voicing concerns about the UK that the rest of you  Brits and Euros are too cowed and politic to utter. I'm not saying he's 100% right, but what's the alternative? Your wonderful London mayor and even better immigration policy? 

It is one thing to  voice perceived  concerns which may or may not be valid. But to assume some ethical  righteousness and cause a very  genuine risk of  causing the failure to prosecute the same people he was attempting to expose  before verdict  makes  him a  fool !

Then to  appeal to  Trump ? Trump? He lost  all  credit  with that  move!

 

 

Yeah, mate , that's the problem with UK immigration, the burdensome requirements for the immigrants. It must be terrible. 

Yes, it's harsh. Just ask all the families separated due to the iniquitous requirements, including many guys with Thai wives or partners.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

1 minute ago, Dumbastheycome said:

It is one thing to  voice perceived  concerns which may or may not be valid. But to assume some ethical  righteousness and cause a very  genuine risk of  causing the failure to prosecute the same people he was attempting to expose  before verdict  makes  him a  fool !

Then to  appeal to  Trump ? Trump? He lost  all  credit  with that  move!

 

 

This dilemma is a uniquely British dilemma with Robinson and absolutely would never happen in the US. Why? Because  anyone is free to voice their opinion publicly and on social media without fear of being charged with a crime or causing a silly mistrial. 

1 hour ago, Mackstask said:

The guy's got ball's to say as it is.  Not like the gutless politicians who are running Great (ha ha) Britain into oblivion.  <deleted> nanny state!

 

Well, it will come good in the end.

 

The cunning plan is to make England into a state with empty coffers and no more welfare state.

Once this secret objective is achieved via Brexit people will leave and find refuge in growing economic powers in Asia. 

 

Tommy Robinson is a threat to this cunning plan and he has been dealt with.

1 hour ago, Justgrazing said:

That is why mainstream media heavily censor articles about sensitive cases if they report on some at all for fear of the very charges he's been pinned on .. Contempt of Court is considered a serious offence and Robinson should have understood that before doing what he did .. 

No, they don't. They just stop publishing if ordered to do so for a limited period of time.

4 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Yes, it's harsh. Just ask all the families separated due to the iniquitous requirements, including many guys with Thai wives or partners.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Don't confuse Thai "immigration" with Western immigration, as they bear not the slightest resemblance. Is this why the majority of Thai Visa posters are so pro-immigration in their own home countries, because  Thailand has made being a mere long term visitor such a pain?

1 hour ago, Mackstask said:

The guy's got ball's to say as it is.  Not like the gutless politicians who are running Great (ha ha) Britain into oblivion.  <deleted> nanny state!

Perhaps he should do so legally. Cant complain when he knew what he was doing was illegal.

1 minute ago, Sujo said:

Perhaps he should do so legally. Cant complain when he knew what he was doing was illegal.

Perhaps it shouldn't have been illegal in the first place. Expressing your opinions on social media. Maybe if the  UK had a First Amendment this wouldn't be an issue. 

19 minutes ago, Denim said:

 

Well, it will come good in the end.

 

The cunning plan is to make England into a state with empty coffers and no more welfare state.

Once this secret objective is achieved via Brexit people will leave and find refuge in growing economic powers in Asia. 

 

Tommy Robinson is a threat to this cunning plan and he has been dealt with.

?????????

9 minutes ago, OtinPattaya said:

This dilemma is a uniquely British dilemma with Robinson and absolutely would never happen in the US. Why? Because  anyone is free to voice their opinion publicly and on social media without fear of being charged with a crime or causing a silly mistrial. 

So it is ok  with you that the trial of  accused is portrayed  according to an extremist view via social media rather than in a court with the presentation of   factual evidence  versus  defense unhindered by popular  speculative  media ? Innocent  until proven guilty or  guilty until proven innocent? If outcome is  guilty  have the freedom to say what will. Until such time  do  not assume vigilante'  rights.

Don't confuse Thai "immigration" with Western immigration, as they bear not the slightest resemblance. Is this why the majority of Thai Visa posters are so pro-immigration in their own home countries, because  Thailand has made being a mere long term visitor such a pain?

Thai Immigration is a breeze compared to UK Immigration.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

3 minutes ago, billd766 said:

?????????

????????.....!!!!

4 minutes ago, OtinPattaya said:

Perhaps it shouldn't have been illegal in the first place. Expressing your opinions on social media. Maybe if the  UK had a First Amendment this wouldn't be an issue. 

But it doesnt. Get it?

 

same in australia, same in US, breach a court order and pay the consequence.

 

the world is not all about the US. If he goes to US and breaks US law but says it isnt illegal in UK do you think he will be let off?