Tommy Robinson flees UK amid contempt of court proceedings

Tommy Robinson fled Britain on Sunday night to “put himself beyond the reach of authorities” in the UK, where he was due to be in court over alleged contempt proceedings, the hearing was told.

The far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was arrested on Sunday at the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone by police who used counter-terrorism powers, but he was released on unconditional bail.

Mr Justice Johnson issued a warrant at the high court for the arrest of Robinson but ordered that it not be carried out until early October to allow the activist time to indicate that he would attend the next hearing voluntarily, or to apply to “set aside” the warrant.

Robinson was due to appear at the court on Monday accused of contempt of court for making a documentary, Silenced, which repeats false claims he made about a Syrian refugee that led to him losing a libel case in 2021 .

The hearing was told by Adam Payter, representing the solicitor general, that Robinson was reminded by police in Kent on Sunday night that he was due to be in court on Monday but nevertheless left the UK via the Channel tunnel.

The solicitor general launched legal action against Robinson in June over an alleged breach of a court order after he lost a libel battle in 2021. A judge ordered him never to repeat the falsehoods, but last year he began repeating those claims, including in the film.

Robinson was detained by Kent police at Folkestone under schedule seven of the Terrorism Act 2000, a power which is used at a port. He was subsequently arrested for frustration of a schedule seven examination but was then released on unconditional bail at 10pm, and travelled onwards across the Channel.

“I am told that he was explicitly reminded of the hearing today before he left the jurisdiction,” said the judge.

Payter told the court that Robinson – whom he referred to as Yaxley-Lennon – was part of a large demonstration on Saturday in Trafalgar Square, where he played the film on a big screen.

The film had a new foreword which was narrated by Robinson, who was showed standing outside the high court and could be heard referring to the injunction.

Payter described this as a “flagrant” and “admitted” breach of the injunction.

Earlier, he said it appeared that Robinson was spending a significant amount of time outside the UK. On the basis of social media and online video, he appeared to have been in Denmark on 14 June and in Canada later that month.

Payter said Robinson returned recently for the purposes of publishing the film and then sought to leave immediately “to put himself beyond the reach of this jurisdiction”.

Nevertheless, he added that the activist was served physically and online with legal documents advising him that he was required to attend the hearing. Johnson said he was satisfied that Robinson was served the documents.

The film repeats false claims that led to Robinson losing a libel case brought against him by a Syrian schoolboy who was filmed being attacked at school.

He was sued by Jamal Hijazi after an incident in a school playground in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018.