Far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, fled the UK on Sunday night to avoid a court appearance over alleged contempt of court, a high court hearing was told. He was due to appear on Monday accused of breaching a court order by repeating false claims about a Syrian refugee in a documentary titled Silenced.
Robinson was arrested on Sunday at the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone under counter-terrorism powers but was released on unconditional bail. Despite being reminded by police of his Monday court date, he left the UK via the Channel tunnel, according to Adam Payter, representing the solicitor general.
Mr Justice Johnson issued a warrant for Robinson's arrest but delayed its execution until early October, allowing time for Robinson to voluntarily attend the next hearing or apply to set aside the warrant. The solicitor general launched legal action in June over an alleged breach of a court order following a 2021 libel case, which Robinson lost after making false claims about Syrian schoolboy Jamal Hijazi.
Payter described Robinson's actions as a 'flagrant' and 'admitted' breach of the injunction, noting that he had shown the film on a big screen during a demonstration in Trafalgar Square on Saturday. The film includes a new foreword in which Robinson stands outside the high court and refers to the injunction.
The court heard that Robinson has spent significant time abroad, including in Denmark and Canada, and returned recently only to publish the film before attempting to leave immediately 'to put himself beyond the reach of this jurisdiction'. He was served legal documents both physically and online, which the judge confirmed he had received.
