Tommy Robinson fled Britain on Sunday evening “to put himself beyond the reach of the authorities” in the UK, where he was due to appear in court over alleged contempt proceedings, a hearing was told.
The far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was arrested by police at the Channel Tunnel station in Folkestone on Sunday using counter-terrorism powers, but has been released on unconditional bail.
Judge Johnson issued a warrant for Robinson’s arrest in Superior Court, but ordered it not to be executed until early October to give the activist time to indicate that he will voluntarily appear at the next hearing or to request that the warrant be “quashed.”
Robinson was due to appear in court on Monday charged with contempt of court for making a documentary called Silenced, which repeats false claims he made about a Syrian refugee that led to him losing a libel case in 2021.
Adam Payter, prosecuting, told the hearing that Kent Police reminded Robinson on Sunday night that he was due to appear in court on Monday, but he still left the UK on the Eurostar.
The attorney general began legal proceedings against Robinson in June for allegedly failing to comply with a court order after he lost a defamation battle in 2021. The judge ordered him never to repeat the lies, but last year he began repeating the allegations, including in a film.
Robinson was arrested by Kent Police in Folkestone under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, a power used in ports. He was subsequently arrested on a charge of frustrating an investigation under Schedule 7, but was released on unconditional bail at 10pm and continued his journey on the Eurostar.
“I am told that you were expressly reminded of today’s hearing before you left the jurisdiction,” the judge said.
Mr Bayter told the court that Robinson, who he referred to as Yaxley Lennon, had taken part in a large demonstration on Saturday in Trafalgar Square, where the film was shown on a giant screen.
The film had a new introduction narrated by Robinson, who is shown standing outside the Supreme Court and can be heard referring to the court order.
Payter described this as a “flagrant” and “acknowledged” violation of the court order.
He had previously said it appeared Robinson had spent a significant amount of time outside the UK. According to social media and online videos, he appeared to have been in Denmark on June 14 and in Canada later that month.
Robinson recently returned to publicize the film and then immediately tried to leave “to put himself out of the reach of this jurisdiction,” Payter said.
But he added that the activist had been served physically and online with legal documents telling him to attend the hearing. Johnson said he was satisfied that the documents had been received by Robinson.
The film repeats false allegations that led to Robinson losing a defamation case brought against him by a Syrian schoolboy who was filmed being assaulted at school.
Jamal Hegazy sued him after an incident in a schoolyard in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018.
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