A senior judge has issued an arrest warrant for far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, after learning that he fled the UK just before a major legal case. The 41-year-old had been due in court for allegedly breaching an order to stop repeating false claims about a Syrian refugee.
Yaxley-Lennon left the country via the Eurotunnel on Sunday night, despite being briefly detained by Kent Police under counter-terrorism powers. He was expected to appear in court on Monday to answer accusations of contempt of court, a serious charge stemming from his defiance of a previous court order.
In July 2021, Yaxley-Lennon was ordered to pay £100,000 in damages to Syrian teenager Jamal Hijazi after falsely accusing him of violent behavior. A judge ruled that Yaxley-Lennon should never repeat these claims, but last year he began spreading the false information again, including in an online video.
Six weeks ago, Yaxley-Lennon was instructed to attend court to face allegations that he violated the court’s injunction. However, on the eve of the hearing, he broadcast the disputed video to his supporters, in what was described by the court as a “flagrant” breach of the order.
Despite being arrested under counter-terrorism laws at the Channel Tunnel terminal, Yaxley-Lennon was released on bail and managed to leave the country. Mr. Justice Johnson, overseeing the case, issued an arrest warrant to be enforced by October if Yaxley-Lennon does not voluntarily return to court. If he fails to cooperate, the case will proceed in his absence, which could lead to a jail sentence.
The court heard that police had no legal power to prevent Yaxley-Lennon from leaving the UK, despite his pending contempt charges. If he continues to avoid court appearances, the situation could result in more severe legal consequences.
