Tommy Robinson, the controversial British activist jailed for contempt of court, will walk free next week after the High Court reduced his 18-month sentence by four months.

At a Glance

• Tommy Robinson’s 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court has been reduced by four months
• Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, breached an injunction related to false allegations against a Syrian refugee
• He successfully purged his contempt by removing offensive content and assuring future compliance with the court order
• The judge noted Robinson’s lack of remorse but acknowledged his changed attitude and commitment to follow the injunction
• Robinson has previously reported threats to his safety while in prison, making his early release significant for his well-being

Court Reduces Sentence After Robinson Complies with Order

Tommy Robinson will be released from prison within the next week after a High Court judge reduced his 18-month sentence for contempt of court. The activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was jailed after admitting to 10 breaches of an injunction that prohibited him from repeating false allegations against Jamal Hijazi, a Syrian refugee. The original sentence consisted of a 14-month punitive element and a four-month coercive element designed to ensure Robinson’s compliance with the court order.

Mr. Justice Johnson determined that the four-month coercive portion of the sentence could be removed after Robinson demonstrated his willingness to comply with the injunction. Robinson successfully applied to purge his contempt by removing the offending social media posts and providing assurances to the court. This decision comes after a previous failed attempt to have his sentence reduced in April, when he was advised that removing the accusations would be necessary to reduce his time in custody.

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The Case Behind Robinson’s Imprisonment

Robinson’s legal troubles stem from a libel case brought by Jamal Hijazi after Robinson falsely claimed the teenager had attacked girls at his school. The court ruled in Hijazi’s favor, ordering Robinson to pay £100,000 in damages. Despite this judgment, Robinson continued to repeat the allegations in various formats, including in his film “Silenced” and during public interviews. His contempt charges were further compounded when he played the film at a public demonstration.

“[Robinson] has given an assurance that he will comply with the injunction in the future, that he has no intention of breaching it again, and that he is aware of the consequences of what would happen if he breached the injunction again”, said Mr Justice Johnson.

While the judge noted an “absence of contrition or remorse” from Robinson, he acknowledged that the activist had shown a change in attitude by removing the offending content and pledging to respect the court order. Robinson’s legal representative, Alex Di Francesco, confirmed to the court that all offending posts had been removed, stating: “The defendant has demonstrated that commitment that Your Lordship required, both in his words and his actions.”

Robinson’s Prison Experience and Safety Concerns

Robinson’s time in prison has reportedly been challenging, with his legal team previously raising concerns about his safety and mental health. His requests to end his segregation from other prisoners were denied, which his representatives claimed worsened his post-traumatic stress disorder. During previous imprisonments, Robinson alleged that threats from Muslim inmates forced him to subsist on canned tuna and remain isolated for his own safety.

“The defendant has demonstrated that commitment that Your Lordship required, both in his words and his actions.”, said Alex Di Francesco.

Robinson’s supporters have pointed out that his activism has focused on exposing grooming gangs in Britain. In a separate case that brought Robinson significant attention, men he filmed who were suspected grooming gang members were later convicted and jailed for sexual abuse crimes. However, his filming and reporting on that case led to previous legal issues for potentially interfering with the administration of justice. With his imminent release, Robinson will need to carefully navigate legal boundaries while continuing his controversial activism.