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Tommy Robinson to be released from prison after High Court reduces contempt sentence
The far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, widely known as Tommy Robinson, is set to leave prison within the coming week after the High Court reduced his sentence for contempt of court by four months. Robinson, whose notoriety stems from his anti-Islam rhetoric and political activism, was serving an 18-month term imposed in October last year following a series of breaches of a court injunction related to a high-profile libel case involving a Syrian refugee.
Robinson’s imprisonment originated from his repeated defiance of a 2021 High Court order that barred him from making or disseminating unfounded allegations against Jamal Hijazi, a Syrian migrant who had previously won a libel suit against him. The injunction followed Robinson’s widely circulated false claims on social media, including assertions about Mr. Hijazi’s conduct at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, which were later proven baseless in court. As a result, Robinson was ordered to pay £100,000 in damages and legal costs, and was strictly prohibited from repeating the allegations.
The sentence handed down by Justice Johnson at Woolwich Crown Court was divided into a 14-month punitive term and a four-month coercive element. The latter was designed to incentivize Robinson’s compliance with the injunction. During his latest appeal at the High Court, Robinson successfully argued to “purge” his contempt, resulting in the reduction of his sentence and paving the way for his imminent release. Justice Johnson clarified that this reduction was contingent upon Robinson’s demonstrated commitment to cease breaching the injunction, including the removal of the film “Silenced” and related content from his social media accounts.
Robinson’s breaches were not limited to online posts. He admitted to ten violations of the injunction, including publishing the film “Silenced,” which reiterated the libelous claims, and screening it during a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London. These actions prompted the Solicitor General to initiate two separate contempt claims against him last year.
While incarcerated at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes, Robinson faced additional legal setbacks. In March, he lost a challenge against the Ministry of Justice regarding his segregation from other inmates, a measure the ministry justified by citing credible threats to his safety. According to the Ministry of Justice, intelligence indicated that other prisoners were plotting to attack Robinson to gain notoriety, necessitating his placement in a closed wing for his protection.
Robinson’s subsequent appeal to the Court of Appeal in April was also unsuccessful. The panel, led by Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, found no reasonable basis to alter his sentence but reaffirmed that he could reduce his time in custody by complying with the court’s directives.
As Robinson prepares for release, he has publicly assured the court that he intends to abide by the injunction and is fully aware of the consequences should he breach it again. His case remains a focal point in the ongoing debate about freedom of expression, the boundaries of civil contempt, and the responsibilities of public figures in the digital age.
The High Court’s decision underscores the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting individuals from defamatory and harmful allegations, particularly in cases where vulnerable parties are involved. The legal proceedings surrounding Robinson’s imprisonment and release continue to attract significant public and media attention, reflecting the broader societal tensions his activism has come to symbolize.
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