Tommy Robinson faces £50,000 bill after 18 months in jail for contempt of court

In October 2022, Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for contempt of court related to a libellous film he made about a Syrian refugee. The film contains False allegations about the refugee and was made in violation of a High Court injunction put in place in 2021 that prohibited Robinson from repeating these allegations. The case stems from an incident in 2018 when a video of the refugee being assaulted at a school in Huddersfield went viral, after which Robinson made erroneous claims suggesting the refugee had harassed female students. This led to a libel lawsuit initiated by the refugee, Jamal Hijazi, against Robinson, resulting in a £100,000 damages ruling and associated costs being awarded to Hijazi. In a recent court judgment, Mr Justice Johnson ordered Robinson to pay £50,000 to cover part of the legal costs incurred by the Solicitor General due to Robinson's actions, which were characterized by blatant disregard for court orders. Robinson admitted to violating the injunction multiple times and was accused of undermining the rule of law by continuing to disseminate False information. The court's ruling highlights the principle that no one is above the law and that deliberate breaches of court orders will have serious repercussions. The judgment serves as a clear reminder of the legal consequences that can follow actions deemed as contempt and stresses the importance of respecting the judicial system.