British far-right activist goes on trial over threats to journalists

Prosecutors say posts viewed millions of times put two MailOnline journalists and their families in fear after the anti-Muslim activist Tommy Robinson took issue with a report about his holiday in Cyprus.MANCHESTER, England (CN) — Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who uses the name Tommy Robinson, went on trial Monday on two counts of harassment causing fear of violence against two MailOnline journalists.Prosecutors say the 43-year-old targeted reporters Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber with social media posts, direct messages and a phone call in August 2024 after the outlet published a report about his holiday in Cyprus.Yaxley-Lennon is one of Britain’s most prominent far-right activists.He founded the English Defence League in 2009 and became its leading figure before leaving in 2013. The group organized street demonstrations against what it described as Islamist extremism and has been characterized by researchers as an anti-Islamic street-protest organization.At Southwark Crown Court in London, which handles serious criminal cases before a judge and jury, prosecutor Ben Holt told jurors that Yaxley-Lennon threatened to visit the journalists’ homes and published photographs identifying them and their families.In a message to Dirnhuber, Yaxley-Lennon wrote, “I’ll be knocking at your door,” Holt said.During a phone call to Young on Aug. 5, 2024, he said, “I’m coming to get you,” according to prosecutors.The dispute followed a MailOnline article published Aug. 4 about Yaxley-Lennon staying at an all-inclusive resort in Cyprus while violent protests swept Britain.The report included photographs of him and details of the location where he was staying with his family.Holt told jurors that Young’s family found a gray Audi parked outside their home after the reporter returned from Cyprus on Aug. 6. A man was sitting inside the car, and Young’s daughter confronted him, the court heard.The family also reported seeing a man pointing a camera toward their home.Young feared Yaxley-Lennon’s large online following could lead to retaliation against him or his family, Holt said. He has more than 2 million followers on X with his posts often reaching millions more after being reactivated following Elon Musk’s purchase of the social media platform.Dirnhuber also noticed a car outside his home after Young told him about the incident.Following threatening messages from social media users, Dirnhuber left his home with his partner and dog. A Daily Mail security contractor helped install a doorbell camera and assess whether a panic alarm was needed, jurors heard.A third journalist involved in the original reporting, George Odling, left his family home for four days because of concerns about his safety, Holt said.Yaxley-Lennon posted photographs of Dirnhuber outside his home alongside a message identifying him as one of the journalists involved in the Cyprus report. The post was viewed at least 4.7 million times, prosecutors said.In another video posted to X, Yaxley-Lennon said he had found the addresses of three journalists and warned others: “I will find you.”Yaxley-Lennon told police he was acting as a journalist and wanted to question the reporters about the ethics of their coverage.In a prepared statement, he said the reporting had upset his children and that he had been concerned for their safety.He denied intending to cause the journalists alarm or distress.He also said he had not encouraged others to threaten or abuse them online and that other people’s comments were beyond his control.Judge John Cavanagh told prospective jurors to put aside any views they held about Yaxley-Lennon, his political activities or the Daily Mail and MailOnline.The judge stressed that the trial was not an assessment of the defendant’s political views and that he was entitled to a fair trial.The court selected a jury and heard evidence from Detective Constable Peter O’Brien, who compiled a dossier on the case, including the original MailOnline article and subsequent changes to its byline.Yaxley-Lennon pleaded not guilty to the charges at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in July 2025.The trial is expected to last about a week and resumes Tuesday.In 2024, Yaxley-Lennon was sentenced to 18 months in jail for contempt of court in a libel case involving a Syrian refugee.Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads