Tommy Robinson Found Guilty of Harassing Two Daily Mail Journalists

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, was convicted on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, of harassing two journalists during nationwide rioting two years ago, Reuters reported. A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London found him guilty by a majority of 10 to 2 after deliberating for 11 hours and 25 minutes. Robinson, who is 43, was released on bail ahead of sentencing and faces up to 10 years in prison.

Robinson stood trial under the name Stephen Lennon. He was charged with two counts of harassment causing fear of violence, relating to messages and calls to two Daily Mail journalists in 2024, Reuters reported. The two journalists were freelance reporter Andrew Young and Daily Mail editor Jacob Dirnhuber. Both men felt forced to leave their homes or employ extra security, according to PA reporting published by the Glasgow Times.

How the case began

The case followed a Daily Mail story that tracked Robinson to Cyprus, where he was on holiday with his family. The story accused him of stoking race riots from his sunbed after three young girls were murdered in Southport in July 2024 and riots spread across Britain, Reuters reported.

Robinson repeatedly contacted the two journalists and posted several messages about them on X. He said he had photos of their home address and family, and he hired private investigators to find the home addresses of the journalists and of Daily Mail editor in chief Ted Verity, Reuters and the Glasgow Times reported.

What Robinson said, and what happens next

Robinson claimed he had only intended to put pressure on the journalists and the Daily Mail to remove a picture of his ex-wife from their website, and he said he felt the article had endangered his family, Reuters reported.

After the verdict, Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said Robinson had "weaponised social media and subjected two journalists to a campaign of harassment which caused them serious fear of violence".

The jury found Robinson guilty of both counts. Sentencing is scheduled for December 16, 2026, and the maximum sentence is 10 years in prison, Reuters and The Times reported.

Robinson said before his trial began that Elon Musk was supporting his defence. Musk had also paid for Robinson's defence in an earlier phone PIN case, for which Robinson was cleared, Reuters reported. This is Robinson's second conviction for harassing a journalist. In 2023 he was given a five year stalking protection order after shouting abuse outside the home of Lizzie Dearden, then home affairs correspondent at The Independent, The Times reported.