Tommy robinson to be freed from jail within days after 'changing his attitude'

Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is set to be released from prison within the next week after his 18-month sentence for contempt of court was reduced by four months

at the High Court. Robinson was incarcerated in October following multiple breaches of an injunction issued in 2021, which prohibited him from repeating false allegations against a Syrian

refugee, who was a schoolboy in Huddersfield and who had successfully sued him for libel. The sentence consisted of a 14-month "punitive" component and a four-month

"coercive" component. Mr Justice Johnson, the sentencing judge, informed Robinson that he could have the latter removed from his sentence if he demonstrated compliance with the

injunction. Originally due for release on July 26, Robinson applied to purge his contempt at a hearing on Tuesday. His legal team argued that he had shown a "commitment" to comply

with the order. Solicitor General's lawyers concurred that Robinson had made efforts to adhere to the injunction. In his ruling, Mr Justice Johnson noted a lack of remorse from Robinson

but acknowledged a "change in attitude" since his sentencing. He stated: "He (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." He asserted: "I consider it appropriate

to grant the application. The practical effect, subject to confirmation by the prison authorities, is that the defendant will be released once he has completed the punitive element, which I

understand will be within the next week." Robinson, tuning in via video link from HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes for the hearing, displayed no overt reaction when the judgment was

delivered. Following his jail sentence last year for 10 acknowledged infringements of the injunction, the Solicitor General brought forward two contempt charges against him. The initial

charge accused him of "knowingly" violating the order on four instances, one of which involved the creation and distribution of a video titled 'Silenced', containing

defamatory claims, in May 2023. This contentious film was affixed at the summit of Robinson's profile on the social networking platform X, meanwhile, he reiterated these accusations in

three interviews spanning February to June 2023. A further claim surfaced in August of the preceding year, referencing six additional violations; one notable incident included broadcasting

the film during a rally held in Trafalgar Square at the heart of London last summer. During the pronouncement of his verdict at Woolwich Crown Court, Mr Justice Johnson indicated that

Robinson could redeem himself from his contempt by evidencing "a commitment to comply with the injunction". Subsequent to his incarceration, Robinson made an unsuccessful attempt

in March to initiate a legal confrontation with the Ministry of Justice regarding his isolation from other inmates while detained. Subsequently, a challenge to his sentence at the Court of

Appeal in April was unsuccessful. However, three senior judges expressed that he could "still reduce the period he has to spend in custody by taking the steps identified" by Mr

Justice Johnson. In court on Tuesday, Barrister Alex Di Francesco representing Robinson, informed that several of the publications which violated the injunction had been "removed".

He declared: "The defendant has demonstrated that commitment that Your Lordship required, both in his words and his actions. Each admitted breach capable of being purged has been acted

upon and has entirely resulted in removal." Adam Payter, advocating for the Solicitor General, noted that a review had been undertaken to verify adherence to the injunction. _GET ALL

THE LATEST AND BREAKING NEWS IN YORKSHIRE BY __SIGNING UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER HERE._ Addressing the court, he confirmed that following the review, the Solicitor General "agrees that the

material has been removed from all bar two of the online locations". He further mentioned that Robinson had initiated efforts to get the content removed from the remaining two online

sites where it was still accessible. The injunction came after Robinson faced legal consequences brought about by Jamal Hijazi, a schoolboy then, who endured an attack at Almondbury

Community School in Huddersfield during October 2018. A video depiction of the assault gained considerable attention online; as a result, Robinson made untrue allegations on Facebook,

including claims that Mr Hijazi attacked girls at his school. This led to the subsequent defamation lawsuit. Mr Justice Nicklin instructed Robinson to pay Mr Hijazi £100,000 in damages and

cover his legal costs, as well as issuing an injunction prohibiting Robinson from repeating the allegations. Mr Justice Johnson stated on Tuesday that Robinson could face up to two years in

prison if he violated the injunction again in the future.