Tommy Robinson case - live: EDL founder's supporters attack journalists after he is jailed for contempt of court
Live updates from Old Bailey hearing
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Tommy Robinson has been sent back to prison for encouraging ”vigilante action” against defendants in a grooming gang trial during a video livestreamed on Facebook.
The founder of the English Defence League was found in contempt of court last week over the film, which breached reporting restrictions on the case in Leeds in May 2018 and came close to collapsing the case against the guilty men.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was originally jailed for 13 months last year but was freed on appeal.
Appearing at the Old Bailey today, he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, reduced to 19 weeks because of time already served. The maximum sentence available to the judges was two years' imprisonment.
Follow live updates from court in our liveblog below
Robinson walks down to the cells with two dock officers and the door is locked behind him.
He manages one last glance to the public gallery before descending the stairs.
Robinson has 28 days from today to lodge an appeal.
He also has 28 days to provide a statement of his means before the judges decide on the Attorney General's application that he pay costs (at least £25,000).
Trouble seems to be over, as ranks of police in riot gear move back to their vans.
Robinson's supporters are describing him as a "political prisoner".
Here's the full write-up of the sentencing. In short, the official sentence is nine months but this was reduced to 19 weeks because of the time he has already served in prison.
Robinson will be released in 9.5 weeks, if not sooner.
An expert in criminal law gives his verdict: "In my 26 years of practice in the criminal courts, I cannot recall a more blatant, serious or disruptive contempt of court, by publication, than that carried out by Yaxley-Lennon in this case."
Here's some more footage of the reaction from Robinson's supporters.
Nick Lowles, chief executive of campaign group HOPE not hate, said: "Stephen Lennon put at risk the trial of men accused of horrendous crimes with his livestreaming antics. He doesn't care about the victims of grooming, he only cares about himself. He now faces yet another stint behind bars.
"So far this year, he's been humiliated at the ballot box, kicked off social media platforms for hate speech, jailed for contempt, and it's only July."
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