A hotel location spread online

Tommy Robinson took the witness stand at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, 22 October, on the fourth day of his trial. The far-right campaigner, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, denies two counts of harassment causing fear of violence. Prosecutors have claimed he chose to frighten two journalists by sharing images of their homes online. Robinson told jurors that a MailOnline article published while he was staying in Cyprus with his family in August 2024 had left him frightened. He said the article described him as being on the run, and that within hours people were posting the name of his hotel and urging others to go there.

He explained his fear in terms of the outlet's reach.

“I was scared because the MailOnline is one of the biggest publications in the world.”

Private investigators and a phone call

Robinson said he hired private investigators to find the home addresses of freelance journalist Andrew Young and editor Jacob Dirnhuber, and to photograph both homes. He said he obtained Young's contact details through a private investigation company. He phoned Young on 5 August because he wanted to question the paper about what he considered the wrongness of its article, and he hoped the outlet would remove a photograph of his ex-wife. Robinson claimed Young laughed during the call, while Young has described the conversation as menacing. Robinson said he wanted the reporters to be questioned on camera rather than harmed.

A photograph posted on X

Robinson admitted posting a picture of Dirnhuber outside his home on X. Asked by defence barrister Alisdair Williamson KC whether he wanted to expose the editor to threats of violence, he said he had not. He told the court he thought the post was reasonable under the circumstances, and that his aim was to pressure the editor so that he would come to the table.

“I wanted him to come to the table.”

He said he did not really consider what the editor would be exposed to as a result.

Family, the Southport remarks and the trial's next stage

Robinson became visibly emotional when asked how his fame had affected his children, pausing before reaching for tissues. He said he had spent years trying to keep his ex-wife and children out of the media spotlight because of threats linked to his public profile. Asked about the period after the killings of three girls in Southport, he agreed that his earlier remarks had been heated, and said he later called for calm. He told the jury that he believed MailOnline had intentionally endangered his family. He insisted he had never meant to put anyone at risk.

“I would not endanger any innocent family.”

Prosecutors began cross-examining him on Thursday, and the trial is ongoing with no verdict yet reached.