Robinson shared photos of reporter's family, court told

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".

Holt told the court that Dirnhuber, the other alleged victim, was scared to be in public after Robinson's alleged harassment.

The journalist's witness statement told of the unrest in the days following the Southport attack in 2024. He claimed there was public interest in covering the "far-right agitation" online from figures such as Robinson that had led to riots across the country.

Holt said that in August that year, Dirnhuber received a number of messages from Robinson and that eventually the journalist had to move house.

In a statement read to the court on Tuesday, Dirnhuber said: "It made me scared to go out in public, it made me scared to go to my own house, it made me feel guilty about how it had affected my loved ones.

"Even now, when I step out my front door, I'm aware I'm at risk of a vigilante attack.

"I feel vulnerable. I feel I will be looking over my shoulder for a long time."

The court heard that Robinson left a voicemail on the phone of Ted Verity, editor-in-chief of the Daily Mail, saying: "You've obviously destroyed my children's holiday in the cost of thousands and I'll give you an opportunity to sort it out because at the minute I'm looking at you and the other two journalists."

The message went on to say: "I'm not threatening you with violence or anything like that. What I'm promising you is I'll make you famous and your families because that's what you've done to me."

The case continues.

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