"I'll be knocking at your door."
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been found guilty of harassing two journalists after hiring private investigators to find their home addresses following a report about his holiday in Cyprus during the 2024 summer riots.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was accused of harassment causing fear of violence against Andrew Young, an investigative reporter, and Jacob Dirnhuber, an editor at the Daily Mail and MailOnline.
The case centred on an article published by MailOnline on August 4, 2024.
It showed Robinson on holiday in Cyprus during unrest after the Southport murders. The report accused him of “stoking riots from his sunbed”.
The 43-year-old was subsequently accused of hiring private investigators to locate the journalists’ addresses, with prosecutors alleging that he acted as a “bully” in his attempts to put pressure on them.
At Southwark Crown Court, a majority jury of 10 to two found Robinson guilty.
The court heard allegations that he had posted pictures of Dirnhuber outside his home and shared cropped images of Young’s family members on his X account.
Robinson was also accused of telling Young “I’m coming to get you” during a phone call the day after the article was published.
He allegedly sent Dirnhuber a direct message stating: “I’ll be knocking at your door.”
During the trial, jurors heard that Young had been provided with a close protection officer by the Daily Mail, while Dirnhuber had been forced to move house because of the alleged harassment.
The private investigators also found the home address of Daily Mail editor-in-chief Ted Verity.
Giving evidence from the witness box, Robinson admitted that he wanted to put “pressure” on the journalists but denied that hiring private investigators was intended to “intimidate” them.
Discussing a video message he shared on X that was directed at both journalists, Robinson told the court he was “giving a warning”, adding:
“I’m not coming to beat [them] up. They know that.”
Robinson was found guilty of harassment causing fear of violence. He was released on bail and will be sentenced on December 16, where he could face up to 10 years in prison.
Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said:
“Stephen Lennon weaponised social media and subjected two journalists to a campaign of harassment which caused them serious fear of violence.
“The evidence in this case showed that he targeted the victims directly and indirectly through social media and by telephone.
“He also published images relating not only to them, but also their families.”
“The jury heard from the victims and witnesses in this case, ultimately deciding that this behaviour crossed the line into criminality.
“Nobody should be made to fear violence because of the work they do.
“Journalists play an important role in a democratic society and should be able to carry out their professional duties without being subjected to harassment.
“We will always seek to work with the police to prosecute those who break the law and I hope these convictions provide reassurance that such behaviour will be treated seriously by the criminal justice system.”
