The High Court of Justice in London has rejected an appeal by Tommy Robinson—real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon—challenging the conditions of his imprisonment at HMP Woodhill, where he has spent 142 days in solitary confinement, according to his legal team.
Robinson, a controversial figure and founder of the English Defence League, has been in custody since October 28, following his sentencing for contempt of court linked to the screening of his documentary "Silenced," which has amassed over 163 million views on X (formerly Twitter).
Court Rules Isolation Not ‘Solitary Confinement’
In a ruling on Friday, Justice Chamberlain dismissed the appeal for a judicial review, stating that Robinson is not being held in conditions amounting to solitary confinement and that his treatment does not breach Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits inhumane or degrading treatment.
"It is not accurate to refer to Mr Yaxley-Lennon’s regime as ‘solitary confinement’ at all," said the judge. "While I accept that the absence of association with other prisoners has an effect on his mental health, it is not arguable that the regime as a whole gives rise to a breach of Article 3."
Justice Chamberlain also upheld the prison’s decision to restrict Robinson’s communication, arguing that limiting calls and visits from individuals believed to run social media platforms was a "proper response" to concerns that his imprisonment could be used to campaign publicly.
Dramatic Court Scenes and Alleged Censorship
The hearing was marked by dramatic scenes, as Robinson was forced to hold up handwritten notes from his cell after, according to his legal team, his phone line was abruptly cut off during a call with his solicitor. Notes reading "Silenced", "They Cut My Phone Off", and "My Calls Are Monitored" were held up by Robinson via a video link.
Court observers say the Zoom link exposed contradictions between what Ministry of Justice lawyers claimed and what was visible in real-time—Robinson alone at his cell door, unable to access legal support. The judge briefly adjourned the session to allow Robinson to confer with his legal counsel after the interruption.
A subsequent report from Robinson’s solicitor confirmed that the prison had indeed cut the call, prompting Justice Chamberlain to instruct prison authorities to ensure Robinson had proper access to his legal team.
Ongoing Legal Battle and Support
Despite this, the High Court ultimately dismissed Robinson’s appeal, ruling that his rights had not been violated.
Robinson’s legal team, reportedly receiving support from entrepreneur Elon Musk, has lodged a separate appeal challenging his sentencing, which is scheduled to be heard on April 11.
The case continues to stir public and political debate, with supporters arguing that Robinson’s treatment is politically motivated, while critics maintain that his contempt charges were legally justified.
Meanwhile, HMP Woodhill and the Ministry of Justice have not issued a formal response to the allegations raised during the hearing.
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