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Tommy Robinson Found Guilty of Harassing 2 UK Journalists

Updated 4:15 PM ET · 3:31 PM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: British anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson was found guilty of harassing two journalists, Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber, on Wednesday, according to Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia).

British anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson was found guilty of harassing two journalists, Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber, on Wednesday, according to Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia). The verdict came after a 10-2 majority decision by a jury at Southwark Crown Court in London.

Both outlets reported that Robinson was charged with two counts of harassment causing fear of violence, stemming from messages and calls he made to the journalists in 2024. However, Arabnews noted that Robinson claimed he had only intended to put pressure on the journalists involved in a story accusing him of 'stoking race riots' after the Southport murders.

The BBC (United Kingdom) and The Guardian reported that Robinson had hired private investigators to take photographs of the home addresses of the journalists, and that he admitted to this during his trial. The BBC also stated that Robinson had wiped tears from his eyes as he gave evidence in the dock about events in August 2024.

According to the BBC and The Guardian, Robinson denied wanting to expose the journalists to threats of violence, saying his actions were 'totally reasonable' under the circumstances. However, the court heard that Robinson had issued 'threatening online posts' that would likely lead his followers to target and intimidate the journalists.

The Guardian and The National Scot reported that Robinson was on holiday in Cyprus when the Daily Mail tracked him down and published a story accusing him of 'stoking race riots from his sunbed.' Robinson then contacted the journalists involved and posted several messages about them on X, claiming he had photos of their home address and family.

The BBC and The Guardian noted that the journalists felt forced to either leave their homes or employ extra security for fear of a 'vigilante' attack. The court heard that Robinson had used 'bully-boy, intimidatory tactics' to frighten the reporters, causing them serious fear of violence.

The BBC and The Guardian reported that Robinson was granted bail ahead of his sentencing, which is scheduled for December 16. The court heard that Robinson had admitted hiring private investigators to track down and photograph the journalists to 'put pressure' on them.

The BBC and The Guardian stated that Robinson had denied the charges, saying he had 'panicked' and had been 'scared' when the Daily Mail published a story accusing him of 'stoking race riots from his sunbed.' He told the jury he had not known they were 'in fear.'

The BBC and The Guardian reported that Robinson had claimed he had only intended to put pressure on the journalists and the Daily Mail to remove a picture of his ex-wife from their website. However, the court heard that Robinson had posted on X that Dirnhuber and other Daily Mail journalists had been located, accusing them of endangering his children.

The BBC and The Guardian noted that Robinson had been found guilty of two offences concerning freelance reporter Andrew Young and Daily Mail and MailOnline editor Jacob Dirnhuber. The court heard that Young received a menacing telephone call from Robinson and that photographs of his wife and child, with their faces cropped out, were circulated on Robinson’s X account.

The BBC and The Guardian reported that Judge Peter Thornton said he would consider all options to sentence Robinson, who faces up to 10 years in prison. The judge said he was concerned about the impact of Robinson's actions on the journalists and their families.

The BBC and The Guardian noted that the Crown Prosecution Service's Frank Ferguson said Robinson had 'weaponised social media and subjected two journalists to a campaign of harassment which caused them serious fear of violence.' Ferguson added that the case provided reassurance that such behavior would be treated seriously by the criminal justice system.

Background

What's confirmed

• Robinson said before his trial began that billionaire X owner Elon Musk, who often reposts Robinson and allowed him to return to the social media platform, was supporting his defense.
• But he was found guilty by a 10-2 majority on Wednesday and released on bail ahead of his sentencing in December.
• The Daily Mail tracked Robinson down to Cyprus, where he was on holiday ‌with his family, and published a story which accused him of “stoking race riots from his sunbed.” Robinson repeatedly contacted two journalists involved in the story, posted several messages about them on X and said he had photos of their home address and family.
• LONDON: British anti-Islam ‌activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, was on Wednesday convicted of harassing two journalists during nationwide rioting two years ago.
• A jury at Southwark Crown Court found the 43-year-old, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, guilty of two counts of harassment causing fear of violence.
• After the guilty verdicts, Frank Ferguson, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said Robinson had "weaponised social media and subjected two journalists to a campaign of harassment which caused them serious fear of violence".​ Robinson was granted bail ahead of his sentencing, scheduled for 16 December‌.
• The court had heard how Robinson, from Bedfordshire, used "bully-boy, intimidatory tactics" to frighten reporters Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber, forcing them to employ security or leave home.
• Feels like: 12.3°C 12.3°F | Patchy rain nearby British far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been found guilty of harassing two journalists in a case involving alleged threats and messages sent in 2024, according to media reports on Wednesday.
• He co-founded the English Defence League, a far-right, anti-Islam group, and led the organisation from 2009 to 2013.
• Britain’s most notorious far-right agitator, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court today of two offences concerning freelance reporter Andrew Young and Daily Mail and MailOnline editor Jacob Dirnhuber.
• “Your wives and children were photographed yesterday,” he declared.
• After a week-long trial, far-right agitator Tommy Robinson has been found guilty of harassing two MailOnline journalists, causing both Jacob Dirnhuber and Andrew Young to fear violence.

What's still developing

• Musk also last year paid for Robinson’s defense when he was charged with ‌failing to ‌provide his phone PIN to ‌police, for which he was cleared by a judge, and Musk virtually attended a rally in London organized by Robinson last year.
• After three young girls ‌were murdered in the northern town of Southport ‌that July, Robinson repeatedly posted about the killings as riots spread across Britain.
• Under cross examination from prosecutor Ben Holt, Robinson said he did not publish details of their exact address or images that showed the journalists' family members' faces.
• Robinson is accused of writing posts on X, sending direct messages and making phone calls that made the two journalists fear the risk of vigilante attacks.
• By Jacob Robinson. @JRobinsonWoN September 16th, 2026 - 10:03 am A new three-part docuseries, centered on the journalists who chased Gary Glitter around the globe and exposed him for the terrible crimes he committed before his 1997 conviction, is coming to Netflix on October 14, 2026.
• A police investigation had begun after the journalists reported concerns for their safety following posts on X that had contained their personal information.
• His message to journalists who continued investigating him was equally explicit: “I’m coming for you…I will find you”.
• Following his conviction, a Met Police spokesperson said Robinson's conduct left the victims fearing for their safety.

Sources

• ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporationlink
• Arabnewslink
• BBClink
• Newslink
• NewsCordlink
• Searchlightmagazinelink
• Seattletimeslink
• Stanislandlink
• The Guardianlink
• The Sun Chroniclelink
• Thenationallink
• Oskaloosalink
• BBClink
• Whats-On-Netflixlink
• The Seattle Timeslink
• WarpBeat — background on Tommy Robinson Found Guilty of Harassing UK Journalists link
• ITV News — video link