Tommy Robinson case: Supporters hurl beer cans as protests erupt after former EDL leader found in contempt of court

Live updates from the Old Bailey contempt hearing

Tommy Robinson arrives at the Old Bailey for contempt of court hearing

Tommy Robinson is facing another prison sentence after being found in contempt of court by judges at the Old Bailey.

The 36 year-old founder of the English Defence League breached reporting restrictions on a grooming trial by livestreaming a video outside Leeds Crown Court and “aggressively confronting” defendants in the case.

Robinson, who is in court under his real name of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was previously jailed for 13 months in May 2018 but was freed on appeal because the original contempt hearing was “rushed”.

Two High Court judges, Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Warby, are due to decide on the sentence at another hearing on 11 July.

See below for our liveblog on the court hearing at the Old Bailey:

Key Points

• Tommy Robinson found in contempt of court
• Supporters erupt in fury at judges' decision
• Robinson could face up to two years in prison
• Supporters' bus slapped with parking ticket outside Old Bailey
• Robinson's explanation to judges is impossible, court hears

[5 July 2019 08:53 · Peter Stubley]

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the second day of Tommy Robinson's contempt of court hearing at the Old Bailey.

[5 July 2019 09:02 · Peter Stubley]

Yesterday's session saw Robinson, under his real name of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, give evidence from the witness box in courtroom No 2.

He says he believed he was not breaching reporting restrictions by livestreaming outside a grooming trial in Leeds in May 2018. Robinson denied encouraging his followers to harass and follow the defendants in that case, at a time when the jury were considering their verdicts.

Here is our as-it-happened coverage from yesterday:

[5 July 2019 09:09 · Peter Stubley]

The attorney general claims that Robinson "seriously impeded the course of justice" by his conduct outside court.

[5 July 2019 09:12 · Peter Stubley]

Tommy Robinson may return to the witness box briefly today, but most of the hearing will involve lengthy legal argument about the law of contempt of court.

A decision is expected this afternoon - although don't be surprised if the judges decide they want a few days to consider it.

The maximum sentence for contempt of court is two years imprisonment.

[5 July 2019 09:12 · Peter Stubley]

The hearing kicks off again at 10.30am.

[5 July 2019 10:14 · Peter Stubley]

The Tommy Robinson bus-stage and his supporters have been moved down the road, further away from the entrance to the Old Bailey, for the second day of the hearing.

It means one end of the road is no longer closed off, as it was yesterday, and metal fencing separates Robinson's supporters from the media.

[5 July 2019 10:17 · Peter Stubley]

Robinson appeared to scratch his face while making a V-sign with his fingers as he arrived at court, according to Press Association.

His supporters greeted him with the now-traditional chant of "Oh Tommy, Tommy". One of them is a bare-chested man in a Donald Trump mask swigging from a can of beer.

For those interested in the clothing of people attending court, Robinson is wearing a dark blue suit jacket, open necked blue shirt, and jeans today.

[5 July 2019 10:29 · Peter Stubley]

Robinson approaches the press sitting in the seats usually occupied by the jury, and smiles as he asks one journalist: "Who are you lying for?"

[5 July 2019 10:30 · Peter Stubley]

Robinson is now back in the witness box to answer questions about his checks on whether there were reporting restrictions in force on the grooming trial.

[5 July 2019 10:34 · Peter Stubley]

He says he waited outside while a friend went inside to take a photograph of the door and/or TV screens to see if they mentioned a reporting restriction.

The attorney general asks why he didn't mention this photograph in his earlier statement.