Tommy Robinson used “bully-boy, intimidatory tactics” to harass two Mail journalists after objecting to an article about his holiday, prosecutors told Southwark Crown Court.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, denies two charges of harassment causing fear of violence. The five-day trial opened with the prosecution alleging that he sent photographers to the journalists’ homes and shared images of their addresses with millions of social media followers.
Prosecutor Ben Holt said Robinson had targeted Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber in response to what he regarded as “an unnecessary intrusion into his holiday”. He told jurors that both men feared for their safety, while their families were also affected.
The allegations date back to the summer of 2024, during widespread unrest in England following the Southport tragedy in which three young girls were stabbed to death at a dance event.
Mr Holt said Robinson had posted messages on X from Cyprus during anti-immigrant protests. Mr Dirnhuber then sent Mr Young and a photographer to the country, where they photographed Robinson using his mobile phone while reclining on a sunbed.
The court was shown the Daily Mail’s front page from August 5, which carried a picture of Robinson beneath the headline: “Stoking race riots from his sunbed.”
Mr Holt told the jury that the case was not about the newspaper’s editorial decision or Robinson’s political views, but about his alleged response to the journalists whom he believed had intruded on his holiday.
He said Robinson could have complained to the independent press regulator IPSO, but instead allegedly sent photographers to the journalists’ home addresses.
“This is what this trial is actually about,” Mr Holt said. “The prosecution say this defendant, using bully-boy, intimidatory tactics, threatened the journalists.”
The prosecutor alleged that Robinson shared redacted pictures of the journalists’ homes on his X account for his followers, some of whom then threatened them. He said the men were either forced to leave their homes or employ security to monitor their addresses.
Robinson allegedly sent Mr Dirnhuber a message saying: “I’ll be knocking on your door.” After a follower posted a picture of Mr Dirnhuber outside his home, Robinson allegedly reposted it with the words: “Got ya”, adding: “I got all three of you tagged & bagged in 1 day”.
Mr Holt also alleged that Robinson telephoned Mr Young, swearing and shouting, and said he had researched his family. Mr Young believed Robinson told him: “I’m coming to get you”, the court heard.
The court was also told that Robinson left a voicemail on the Daily Mail editor’s mobile phone saying: “I’ve already located every f***ing one of you.”
Robinson, wearing a blue checked waistcoat and white shirt, listened as the allegations were outlined. He greeted supporters outside the court before the start of the trial.
When interviewed by police on December 9 2024, Robinson answered “no comment” to every question, jurors were told. During a second interview two days later, he provided a prepared statement claiming that the newspaper had identified the hotel where he was staying in Cyprus with his family, leaving them “scared and upset” as news crews photographed and filmed his children.
Jurors were told that no identifiable pictures of Robinson’s children had been published by the Daily Mail in print or online. Mr Holt said Robinson’s position was that his family had been placed in danger and that his conduct was reasonable because he was acting to protect them.
Mr Justice Cavanagh told the nine women and three men on the jury that Robinson was a “prominent activist and commentator”, but warned them to put aside any opinions they held about him or his political views. The trial continues.
