Tommy Robinson Charged with Harassment of Journalists

Southwark Crown Court heard a recording of Andrew Young repeatedly telling Robinson he did not want to engage. Young directed all matters to the Daily Mail legal department.

Young confirmed he told Robinson several times that he regarded the statements as threatening behavior. He would report the conduct.

Jacob Dirnhuber, his partner, and their dog fled their home after Robinson tweeted images of the journalist online. Robinson also allegedly messaged Dirnhuber photographs of an unknown woman.

Dirnhuber stated he feared interception by a Robinson supporter on his way to work. "Even now every time I step out of my front door I am aware that there is a risk of a vigilante attack," Dirnhuber said.

Young's daughter was out walking several days after the article about Robinson in Cyprus was published. Two men in a car shouted at her.

Young's family also reported a grey Audi parked outside their home on August 6. Andrew Young stated, "It was clear to me that Tommy Robinson was following through on his threats."

Andrew Young expressed concern about potential harm from Robinson's followers. "My main concern was that while he may not physically harm me, he had 800,000 followers on X at the time who might have been tempted to seek revenge on me or my home or my family for what I had written," Young stated.

He added, "I was worried and concerned, I felt that my family was under threat and I was fearful of what might happen next."

Jacob Dirnhuber described the impact on his life. "It made me for a period scared to go out in public, it made me scared to go to my own house, it made me feel immensely guilty as to how it affected my loved ones and has caused stress in my personal relationships," he stated.

He also noted his concern about the risk of a vigilante attack, especially given the uncertainty of who had his address.

Prosecutor Ben Holt stated the case focuses on Robinson’s reaction to what he perceived as "an unnecessary intrusion into his holiday." Robinson became enraged after the Mail published a story with the headline: 'Stoking race riots from his sunbed.'

Robinson, who founded the English Defence League, entered not guilty pleas in July last year. The trial is expected to last five days and includes witness statements from Daily Mail journalist Jacob Dirnhuber and freelance reporter Andrew Young.