Ex-EDL leaders Tommy Robinson and Kevin Carroll will not answer charge as court case dropped over Drummer Lee Rigby march

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

The two former leaders of the English Defence League will not have to answer a charge of obstructing police after prosecutors said there was “insufficient evidence” to bring the case against them.

Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and his second cousin Kevin Carroll were accused of attempting to defy a ban on marching to the spot where soldier Lee Rigby was murdered via one of the largest mosques in the UK.

When Yaxley-Lennon arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court to stand trail this morning, he was told the case had been discontinued.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said there was "insufficient evidence" to bring the case.

The pair each denied a charge of obstructing police outside Aldgate East Tube station in east London on 29 June.

Yaxley-Lennon and Carroll were attempting to stage what they claimed was a charity walk to Woolwich Barracks in south east London via the East London Mosque, with a plan to lay flowers in memory of Fusilier Rigby in Woolwich on Armed Forces Day.

Police said they offered two alternative routes that would avoid Tower Hamlets, home to the East London Mosque, and warned against anyone trying to march to Woolwich, stating they would face arrest if they did so.

A CPS spokeswoman said: "Both defendants were charged by police with obstructing a police officer in the execution of her duty, contrary to s89(2) Police Act 1996. The file was then passed to CPS London to prepare the prosecution case.

"When this case was reviewed, the lawyer concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the actions of the suspects amounted to the offence of obstructing a police officer in the execution of her duty, contrary to s89(2) Police Act 1996. We therefore discontinued the case."

The pair, who established the EDL in 2009, announced they were quitting the group earlier this month.

Yaxley-Lennon will appear at the same court later today to answer two further public order charges relating to an EDL demonstration in East London on 7 September.

He is accused as a public assembly organiser of failing to comply with the condition of limiting speeches at the rally to 30 minutes.

He is also alleged to have incited others to breach the condition.

He has indicated that he will plead not guilty to the charges.

Additional reporting by Press Association