- 11.09.25
- Daxton Whitfield
- 0
Tommy Robinson to face jury trial over alleged harassment of Daily Mail journalists
Tommy Robinson, the 42-year-old far-right activist and co-founder of the English Defence League, has been charged with harassment causing fear of violence in connection with two Daily Mail journalists. The incidents are said to have taken place in August 2024.
Robinson appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 5 June 2025. He chose a jury trial, which moves the case to the Crown Court, and was granted bail. At a pre-trial hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 3 July 2025, he entered not guilty pleas to the charges.
The trial has been listed for 16 October 2026. That long gap reflects the strain on Crown Court timetables, where complex cases and a heavy backlog have pushed hearings well into future terms. Until then, the case remains live and subject to the usual court rules around reporting and evidence.
What the charges mean, and how this case fits with recent events
“Harassment causing fear of violence” is an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Prosecutors must show a course of conduct that caused the complainants to fear violence would be used against them. It’s an either‑way offence, which means it can be tried by magistrates or by a jury in the Crown Court; defendants can elect a jury trial, as Robinson did here. On conviction in the Crown Court, the offence can carry a custodial sentence and a restraining order is commonly considered.
The court has not heard the full evidence yet. At this stage, the details of what is alleged have not been set out in open court beyond the charge and the dates. Robinson denies the allegations and will contest them at trial.
This prosecution is separate from a different incident that briefly put Robinson back in the headlines last summer. He was arrested at Luton Airport on 4 August in relation to an alleged assault at St Pancras station on 28 July. After reviewing the file, the Crown Prosecution Service said the case did not meet the test for a charge because there was not a realistic prospect of conviction. British Transport Police also noted that the person said to be the victim did not wish to give a statement. That investigation was closed without charge.
Robinson’s clashes with the media have spilled into courtrooms before. In 2021, he was convicted of stalking Independent journalist Lizzie Dearden and her partner and was barred for five years from contacting them. That case followed an incident in which he went to Dearden’s home after she had requested comment for a story and made false claims about her partner. The conviction underlined how UK courts tend to react to conduct that targets reporters at or near their homes.
Here, the alleged victims are two journalists working for the Daily Mail. The broader context is familiar to anyone working in British newsrooms: reporters covering divisive subjects often find themselves on the receiving end of threats, doorstep confrontations, and online pile-ons. Police forces and prosecutors say they are using harassment and stalking laws more often when behaviour crosses from robust scrutiny into intimidation or fear of violence.
Moving forward, the case will go through the usual Crown Court process. Pre-trial directions will deal with legal issues such as what evidence the jury can hear, disclosure timelines, and any applications about the conduct of the trial. The court may also consider special measures for witnesses, which can include screens or remote testimony, if the judge decides they’re needed for a fair hearing.
Robinson remains on bail. Courts typically impose conditions in cases of alleged harassment—such as not contacting complainants or going near specific addresses—but the full terms in this case were not publicly detailed at the hearing. Breaching bail can lead to arrest and remand.
The timetable—incidents in August 2024, first appearance in June 2025, pre-trial hearing in July 2025, and a trial not due until October 2026—shows how stretched the system is. For complainants, defendants, and the reporting public, that means a long wait. When the case finally opens, a jury will decide whether the prosecution has proven a course of conduct that caused fear of violence, or whether Robinson’s actions fall short of the criminal threshold.
Write a comment