Tommy Robinson tells court he was ‘panicked and terrified’ by Daily Mail article

Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in Tearful Tommy Robinson tells court he was ‘panicked and terrified’ by Daily Mail article Independent Reporters Thursday 22 October 2026 13:33 BST Bookmark popover Removed from bookmarks Close popover Voicemail Tommy Robinson left on Daily Mail journalist's phone played in court Political activist Tommy Robinson , giving evidence under his real name Stephen Lennon at Southwark Crown Court , broke down in tears as he described feeling panicked and terrified after a MailOnline article exposed his location in Cyprus in August 2024. The 43-year-old admitted hiring private investigators to find the home addresses of freelance journalist Andrew Young and editor Jacob Dirnhuber, stating he intended to put pressure on them and question them on camera about their coverage. Robinson denied wanting to expose the journalists to threats of violence, telling the court he posted a photograph of Mr Dirnhuber on X and made a direct call to Mr Young because he was desperate to get an image of his ex-wife removed and protect his family. The defendant maintained that the Daily Mail article, headlined ‘Stoking riots from his sunbed’, endangered his family after online users began sharing his hotel location following the Southport stabbings, despite his claims that he had issued calls for calm. Robinson has pleaded not guilty to two charges of harassment causing fear of violence, with prosecutors alleging he engaged in intimidatory bully-boy tactics against the two journalists as the trial continues. In full Tommy Robinson cries in court when asked how his family were affected by Daily Mail article