Tommy Robinson Hired Detectives to Find Daily Mail Journalists, Court Told
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By Daniel Sandford and Louise Parry
Reported from at Southwark Crown Court
and
Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) has been giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court. He denies two charges of harassment causing fear of violence to reporters Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber.
Key Points
- Robinson claims he was "shocked and scared" when the Daily Mail published an article accusing him of "stoking race riots from his sunbed".
- He denies wanting to expose the journalists to threats of violence, saying his actions were "totally reasonable... under the circumstances".
- Robinson was on holiday in Cyprus during the 2024 Southport attacks and claims he tried to "calm" things.
- He used private investigators to obtain journalists' contact details and phone Andrew Young, demanding the removal of his ex-wife's picture from the publication.
In his own words:
"I wanted to find the journalists... I needed to question them. I would find the men on camera and ask them how was I stoking race riots?"
Quoting the Daily Mail article:
"I'm scared because the Mail Online is the biggest publication in the world."