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EDL founder Tommy Robinson jailed EDL founder Tommy Robinson jailed
(about 5 hours later)
Former leader of the English Defence League (EDL) TommyRobinson has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for mortgage fraud.Former leader of the English Defence League (EDL) TommyRobinson has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for mortgage fraud.
The 31-year-old, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, The 31-year-old, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, admitted to two counts of fraud at a hearing in November, after he was accused of conspiring with others to obtain a mortgage by misrepresentation.
admitted to two counts of fraud at a hearing in November, after The fraud of the Abbey and Halifax banks amounted to £160,000 over a period of six months in 2009.
he was accused of conspiring with others to obtain a mortgage by In an apparent comment on his sentence at St Albans Crown Court, Mr Robinson posted on Twitter: "This is a complete stitch-up".
misrepresentation. He also wrote “one last feed” alongside a photo of a plate of chicken, mashed potatoes and chips, followed by “see u all in 18 months when I’ve lost all this weight [sic]”.
The fraud of the Abbey and Halifax banks amounted to £160,000 over a period of six months He has also been detained by the police a number of times during EDL rallies since founding the far-right group in 2009, including when police tried to restrict far-right marches in the wake of the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby last year.
in 2009. Mr Robinson left the group in October 2013 alongside co-leader Kevin Carroll, following what they said were discussions with the counter-extremism think tank Quilliam.
In an apparent comment on his sentence at St Albans Crown However, in a continuation of the EDL’s anti-Islamist stance, Mr Robinson wrote in a statement at the time that he plans to “counter Islamist ideology not with violence but with better, democratic ideas.”
Court, Mr Robinson posted on Twitter: "This is a complete stitch-up". Charles Sherrard QC who represented Mr Robinson, told the court that his client's life would be in danger in prison, particularly as he may have alienated his previous followers.
He also wrote “one last feed” alongside a photo of a plate The barrister cited the 10 months that Mr Robinson spent in prison for using someone else’s passport to travel to the USA, when he had to be placed in solitary confinement and was moved to four different jails for his safety, the BBC reported.
of chicken, mashed potatoes and chips, followed by “see u all in 18 months when I’ve lost all this weight [sic]”. Mr Sherrard also claimed that his client is on the wanted-list of the Somali rebel group al-Shabaab, which poses him further risk.
He has also been detained by the police a number of times during EDL rallies since founding the far-right group in 2009, including when police tried to restrict far-right marches in the
wake of the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby last year.
Mr Robinson left the group in October
2013 alongside co-leader Kevin Carroll, following what they said were
discussions with the counter-extremism think tank Quilliam.
However, in a continuation of the EDL’s anti-Islamist stance,
Mr Robinson wrote in a statement at the time that he plans to “counter Islamist ideology not
with violence but with better, democratic ideas.”
Charles Sherrard QC who represented Mr Robinson, told the
court that his client's life would be in danger in prison, particularly as he
may have alienated his previous followers.
The barrister cited the 10 months that Mr Robinson spent in
prison for using someone else’s passport to travel to the USA, when he had to
be placed in solitary confinement and was moved to four different jails for his
safety, the BBC reported.
Mr Sherrard also claimed that his client is on the
wanted-list of the Somali rebel group al-Shabaab, which poses him further risk.
Additional reporting by PAAdditional reporting by PA
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