Political activist Tommy Robinson shared pictures of a journalist’s family online and threatened to visit his home, a court has heard.
In July last year, the 43-year-old from Bedfordshire, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, pleaded not guilty to two counts of harassment causing fear of violence towards reporters Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber.
After three young girls were murdered in Southport in July 2024, Robinson posted on social media, which alerted the Daily Mail to the fact he was on holiday in Cyprus. The paper published articles of him “on a sunbed”.
Southwark Crown Court heard that photos of Young’s wife and child were later shared to Robinson’s social media followers.
Prosecutor Ben Holt said the trial was about Robinson’s reaction to the articles, and accused him of using “bully-boy tactics” to “intimidate” the journalists.
In his statement read to the court, Young said someone who appeared to be a Robinson supporter leaked his home address on X.
Later, a man who introduced himself as Robinson called him and became “increasingly menacing, swearing and shouting”.
Young added: “I believe he said the words ‘I’m coming to get you’.”
The court heard that Young’s family told him on 6 August about a grey Audi that had been parked outside earlier that day, with a man sitting inside.
Young said: “It was clear to me that Tommy Robinson was following through on his threats.”
In the days following the publication of the article, the court heard that two men in a car shouted at Young’s daughter, and she believed they photographed her.
He said Robinson’s actions caused his family an “undue amount of stress”.
