Tommy Robinson Faces Potential Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to Contempt Breaches Linked to Jamal Hijazi Case in South London

Tommy Robinson Faces Potential Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to Contempt Breaches Linked to Jamal Hijazi Case in South London

A notable court appearance this morning saw Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, confess to violating contempt laws.

The 41-year-old acknowledged breaching a High Court order established in 2021, which prohibited him from repeating defamatory statements about Syrian refugee Jamal Hijazi.

Hijazi had successfully sued Robinson, leading to this legal scrutiny.

Robinson appeared in Woolwich Crown Court in South London, dressed in a grey suit and a blue shirt.

When asked if he admitted the breaches, he nodded in affirmation, marking the start of what was supposed to be a two-day hearing focused on these legal issues.

He now faces the possibility of imprisonment, with sentencing set to be determined by Judge Mr. Justice Johnson later today.

Support and Demonstrations

The courtroom was filled with around 24 supporters who came to back Robinson.

Outside the court, another 30 individuals waved union flags, all under the watchful eye of a dozen police officers.

The breaches in question involved the screening of a film titled Silenced at a demonstration in Trafalgar Square back in July, one of several alleged violations of the injunction that occurred between June and July this year.

Notably, the film is also prominently featured on Robinson’s X account.

Robinson’s legal representative, Sasha Wass KC, informed the court that the production of this film was financially backed by Infowars, the controversial media outlet founded by Alex Jones, known for his discredited claims about events like the Sandy Hook school massacre.

The Background of the Case

Legal troubles for Robinson stem from a past incident involving Jamal Hijazi, who, as a schoolboy in October 2018, was assaulted at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

Following the viral spread of footage from this incident, Robinson made unfounded claims that painted Hijazi as a violent bully, which prompted Hijazi to pursue legal action.

The court ultimately ordered Robinson to pay Hijazi £100,000 in damages and his legal fees while imposing an injunction to prevent him from making further defamatory remarks.

In addition to these contempt issues, Robinson is also facing charges for failing to provide the PIN for his mobile phone as required under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act.

This arose from his arrest in July at a port in Kent, where he allegedly did not comply with police requests.

According to this law, officers have the authority to stop individuals at UK ports to investigate potential terrorism-related activities.

Robinson is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 13 regarding this matter.

Recent Actions and Protests

On October 20, Robinson shared a video of himself arriving at Luton Airport, expressing surprise that he had not been arrested.

He later turned himself in to police, accompanied by a large group of supporters, and was subsequently remanded in custody prior to today’s hearing.

Over the weekend, a significant protest took place in central London, which Robinson could not attend due to his remand.

Demonstrators carried signs with messages like “Two tier Keir fuelled the riots,” referring to recent unrest across the UK sparked by misinformation surrounding a tragic incident.

As protesters marched from Victoria station to Parliament Square, they chanted “We want Tommy out.”

Police reported the arrest of two individuals from the far-right demonstration—one for a racially aggravated public order offense and another for violating conditions of the Public Order Act.

Additionally, two more arrests occurred at a counter-protest organized by Stand Up To Racism.

Legal Proceedings and Implications

With the backdrop of these events, Aidan Eardley KC, representing the Solicitor General, discussed the historical context of the case.

He recounted the 2018 incident involving Hijazi, who was just 15 at the time and newly arrived from Syria.

Following a viral video of the assault, Robinson became involved, suggesting through his platform that Hijazi was actually a violent bully who deserved punishment.

Eardley explained that Robinson’s attempts to defend his claims as true were ultimately unsuccessful in court.

The judge ruled that Robinson did not meet the necessary legal standards to justify his assertions.

He described the Silenced film as a significant work, lasting around 90 minutes and entirely focused on the Hijazi case, highlighting the ongoing implications of Robinson’s actions and the legal challenges he now faces.

What’s next for Robinson and the supporters rallying behind him remains uncertain as the court prepares for a decision later today.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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