FAR-RIGHT thug Tommy Robinson has fled Britain after committing a “flagrant” contempt of court relating to a film shown at a protest in central London, the High Court was told.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, failed to appear at the Royal Courts of Justice today for a hearing in a contempt of court case.
Adam Payter, representing the Solicitor General, said it is believed Robinson left hours after being released on unconditional bail following his arrest over the weekend.
He said Robinson was arrested following a “large demonstration” in central London, which featured the showing of a film that was “central to this application” and showed a “flagrant” breach of the court order.
Mr Payter said that, following the demonstration, Robinson was stopped in Folkestone, Kent, during a port “stop and search” and arrested by Kent Police under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Mr Payter said: “We understand he failed to co-operate with a port stop and search.
“The implication is he was attempting to leave the country and therefore was not intending to attend this hearing this morning.”
He said Robinson was released on unconditional bail at 10pm on Sunday, but that it was believed he “left the UK last night and there was nothing to prevent him from doing so.”
Mr Payter said Robinson had returned to the UK “with the purpose of publishing the film” before leaving the country again “to put himself beyond the reach of this court’s jurisdiction.”
In 2021, Syrian refugee Jamal Hijazi successfully sued Robinson after the then-schoolboy was assaulted at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018.
After a clip of the incident went viral, Robinson made false claims, including about Mr Hijazi attacking girls in his school, leading to the libel case.
Mr Justice Nicklin ordered Robinson to pay Mr Hijazi £100,000 in damages and his legal costs, as well as making an injunction preventing Robinson from repeating the allegations he made against the then-teenager.
On Saturday 15,000 people took part in a march and rally in London organised by Robinson. They were opposed by 5,000 anti-racists attending a counter Stand up to Racism rally.
