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Tommy Robinson wins appeal over contempt sentence, will be released (WATCH LIVE) | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Tommy Robinson’s conviction for contempt of court has been overturned after a court ruled that the process leading to the conviction of the former leader of the English Defence League ‘was flawed.’ | Tommy Robinson’s conviction for contempt of court has been overturned after a court ruled that the process leading to the conviction of the former leader of the English Defence League ‘was flawed.’ |
Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, along with two other judges, quashed a finding of contempt, ordering a fresh hearing of the allegation. Robinson did not attend court but witnessed his appeal hearing via videolink. | |
Robinson’s supporters broke into applause as Lord Burnett announced the decision, prompting the judge to order "silence.” | |
In a summary of the judgement the trio of judges wrote: "Once the appellant had removed the video from Facebook, there was no longer sufficient urgency to justify immediate proceedings.” | |
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment in May for breaching reporting restrictions relating to an ongoing trial. | Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment in May for breaching reporting restrictions relating to an ongoing trial. |
The self-styled journalist live-streamed footage from outside the courthouse on Facebook, and the video was watched some 250,000 times. | The self-styled journalist live-streamed footage from outside the courthouse on Facebook, and the video was watched some 250,000 times. |
A further three months were added to his imprisonment for breaching a previous suspended sentence related to an incident at Canterbury Crown Court in May 2017. | |
Fearing protests, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick warned that added security measures were in place around the courthouse. | Fearing protests, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick warned that added security measures were in place around the courthouse. |
Dick told the Independent: “We’ll see where the Free Tommy Robinson supporters go next and what they’re thinking next – it is a large set of people at the moment. | Dick told the Independent: “We’ll see where the Free Tommy Robinson supporters go next and what they’re thinking next – it is a large set of people at the moment. |
“We are thinking about it and will be well-prepared.” | “We are thinking about it and will be well-prepared.” |
Outside the courthouse some 25 #FreeTommy supporters cheered the decision. They were opposed by a similar number of activists from Stand Up to Racism. The two groups exchanged chants, but were separated by police to avoid violence. | |
Jeremy Dein QC, Robinson’s lawyer, said his client’s initial court appearance was “unnecessarily and unfairly rushed,” with Robinson being arrested, sentenced and jailed within hours of his arrest. | Jeremy Dein QC, Robinson’s lawyer, said his client’s initial court appearance was “unnecessarily and unfairly rushed,” with Robinson being arrested, sentenced and jailed within hours of his arrest. |
Robinson had previously been handed a suspended sentence for contempt of court after live-streaming at another case in Canterbury in 2017. Among other arrests, he was also previously detained for “incitement” after a protest in 2013, and was jailed for 18 months for mortgage fraud in 2014. | |
A date for Robinson’s fresh hearing has not yet been set. | A date for Robinson’s fresh hearing has not yet been set. |
Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |