Harassment Charges Over Threats to Journalists Linked to Tommy Robinson

Southwark Crown Court is hearing two counts of harassment against political activist Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) for allegedly threatening journalists Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber in early August 2024. Prosecutor Ben Holt says Robinson used his large online following to intimidate the reporters, circulating their home addresses and urging supporters to target them. Young, a freelance journalist for MailOnline, reported that his Suffolk address was posted on X (formerly Twitter) on August 5, 2024, prompting a menacing phone call in which Robinson told him he would “have to move house.” Dirnhuber similarly reported that images of his family were tweeted and that he and his partner felt compelled to leave their home.

The GuardianTommy Robinson in court for intimidating Suffolk journalist

The incidents followed Robinson’s departure to Cyprus after the July 2024 Southport killings, which sparked riots that authorities later linked to his online activity. While in Cyprus, Young continued reporting on Robinson’s movements, prompting the alleged retaliation.

The Guardian

Young testified that the public posting of his address and the subsequent appearance of unknown men outside his house heightened his fear for his family’s safety. Dirnhuber’s statement echoed similar concerns, noting that the harassment could affect his willingness to cover future stories.

The Guardian

• “My main concern was that while he may not physically harm me, he had 800,000 followers on X at the time who might have been tempted to seek revenge on me or my home or my family for what I had written,” — Andrew Young

The Guardian

• “This made me very concerned that my address had been put on X by a Tommy Robinson supporter,” — Andrew Young

The Guardian

• “What he did, we say, was to intimidate those journalists.” — Ben Holt

Tommy Robinson in court for intimidating Suffolk journalist

The Guardian describes Robinson as 42 years old, whereas the Eastern Anglia Daily Times records his age as 43. Both outlets agree on the timeline of intimidation in early August 2024 and the charges filed, but the age discrepancy remains unresolved. Additionally, while the court has heard detailed accounts of threats and surveillance, the identity of the “unknown men” observed outside the journalists’ homes has not been established.

The Guardian