Tommy Robinson flees UK on Eurostar following contempt of court proceedings | UK News

Tommy Robinson fled Britain on Sunday night to “get out of reach of the authorities” in the UK, where he was due to appear in court on an alleged contempt of court charge, the hearing was told.

The far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was arrested at the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone on Sunday by police using their counter-terrorism powers but was released on unconditional bail.

Mr Justice Johnson issued a High Court warrant for Robinson’s arrest, but ordered that it not be executed until early October to allow the activist to indicate that he would voluntarily attend the next hearing, or to apply to have the warrant “vacated”.

Robinson was due in court Monday, charged with contempt of court for making a documentary, Silenced, which repeats false statements he made about a Syrian refugee that led to him losing a 2021 defamation lawsuit.

At the hearing, Adam Payter, representing the solicitor general, said Robinson had been reminded by Kent Police on Sunday evening that he was due to appear in court on Monday, but had nevertheless left the UK on the Eurostar.

The solicitor general launched legal action against Robinson in June for allegedly violating a court order after he lost a defamation battle in 2021. A judge ordered him to never repeat the falsehoods, but last year he began repeating the claims, including in the film.

Robinson was arrested by Kent Police in Folkestone under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, a power used at a port. He was later arrested for failing to comply with a judicial review, but was later released on unconditional bail at 10pm and continued his journey on the Eurostar.

“I was told that he was explicitly reminded of today’s hearing before he left the court,” the judge said.

Payter told the court that Robinson – who he called Yaxley-Lennon – was part of a large demonstration in Trafalgar Square on Saturday, where he showed the film on a big screen.

The film had a new preface narrated by Robinson, who was shown standing outside the High Court and could be heard referring to the injunction.

Payter described this as a “flagrant” and “admitted” breach of the injunction.

He had previously said it appeared Robinson was spending a lot of time outside the UK. Based on social media and online videos, he appeared to have been in Denmark on June 14 and in Canada later that month.

Payter said Robinson had recently returned with the aim of releasing the film and then sought to leave immediately “to get out of the reach of this jurisdiction.”

He added, however, that the activist had received legal documents physically and online informing him that he was required to attend the hearing. Johnson said he was satisfied that Robinson had received these documents.

The film repeats false allegations that led Robinson to lose a defamation lawsuit brought against him by a Syrian schoolboy who was filmed being assaulted at school.

He was sued by Jamal Hijazi after an incident in a school playground in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018.