Tommy Robinson admits hiring private detectives to track reporters

Political activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, told Southwark Crown Court that he hired private detectives to track down and photograph two Daily Mail reporters to put pressure on them, BBC News and the Press Gazette reported. BBC News and The Telegraph both report that the 43-year-old from Bedfordshire admitted to using private investigators against the journalists. [1][2][3][4]

BBC News reported that Yaxley-Lennon cried in court while giving evidence and stated he was shocked and scared when the newspaper published an article accusing him of stoking race riots from his sunbed. He has denied two charges of harassment causing fear of violence to reporters Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber following the 2024 Southport attacks, according to BBC News. [1]

The National Scot reported that Yaxley-Lennon admitted hiring private investigators to find the home addresses of the journalists. The Guardian previously reported allegations that he threatened to publish details about a journalist's family. [5][6]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Yaxley-Lennon went on trial accused of harassing the two Daily Mail journalists after what he viewed as an intrusion into his holiday. Prosecutors said he sent photographers to the reporters' homes and shared pictures with his social media followers, forcing the journalists to hire security or leave their properties. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in July last year. [8]

Yaxley-Lennon co-founded the English Defence League and served as its leader from 2009 to 2013. [7]