Tommy Robinson, the controversial far-right activist whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is expected to spend his 18-month prison sentence in segregation for his own protection. Robinson, 41, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court for contempt of court after breaching a High Court injunction. He admitted to 10 violations of the 2021 order, which barred him from making defamatory statements about Syrian refugee Jamal Hijazi, who previously won a libel case against him.

The breaches stemmed from Robinson’s film Silenced, funded by Alex Jones’s Infowars, in which Robinson repeated allegations against Hijazi. The court heard that Robinson’s videos, which defied the court injunction, were viewed millions of times online, with one video reportedly garnering 44 million views. Mr. Justice Johnson noted the “sophisticated” nature of the breaches, which he described as “planned, direct, and flagrant.” Given the severity of the violations and Robinson’s history of non-compliance, the judge decided against suspending the sentence.

Security Concerns in Prison

Due to safety concerns, Robinson is expected to be held in isolation, a measure previously used when he was jailed in 2010. Former prison governor Ian Acheson called Robinson’s incarceration a “real headache” for prison officials, as his presence could pose risks both to himself and the prison’s stability. Robinson’s notoriety and political stance have led to concerns that he could be targeted by other inmates, including those with extremist views. Mr Acheson noted that there is a risk of Robinson becoming a target, potentially for those who might see him as a “political prisoner” or those who oppose his views.

Far-Right Supporters Rally in London

Over the weekend, thousands of Robinson’s supporters gathered in central London to protest his detention. Demonstrators carried banners and placards, chanting “We want Tommy out” as they marched from Victoria Station to Parliament Square. Police detained four people during the rally, including two on charges of racially aggravated public order offences and assault.

Previous Legal Battles

Robinson’s legal issues date back to 2018, when Hijazi, then a 15-year-old Syrian refugee, was attacked by another student at a school in Huddersfield. Robinson accused Hijazi of being a “violent bully” and spread defamatory content to his followers on social media, leading to the libel case. In 2021, Robinson was ordered to pay £100,000 in damages to Hijazi and comply with a court injunction barring him from repeating the allegations.

Robinson’s sentence includes a potential four-month reduction if he shows contrition by removing defamatory material from his social media accounts and attempts to have it removed from other platforms. However, the court noted that Robinson had shown no signs of remorse or intent to comply.

Robinson will return to court on November 13 to face an unrelated charge under the Terrorism Act, after allegedly refusing to provide the PIN for his mobile phone at a UK port in July.