Tommy Robinson case - live: EDL founder's supporters attack journalists after he is jailed for contempt of court

Live updates from Old Bailey hearing

Tommy Robinson enters the Old Bailey ahead of sentencing

Tommy Robinson has been sent back to prison for encouraging ”vigilante action” against defendants in a grooming gang trial during a video livestreamed on Facebook.

The founder of the English Defence League was found in contempt of court last week over the film, which breached reporting restrictions on the case in Leeds in May 2018 and came close to collapsing the case against the guilty men.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was originally jailed for 13 months last year but was freed on appeal.

Appearing at the Old Bailey today, he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, reduced to 19 weeks because of time already served. The maximum sentence available to the judges was two years' imprisonment.

Follow live updates from court in our liveblog below

Key Points

• Tommy Robinson arrives late for sentencing at Old Bailey
• EDL founder faces up to two years in prison
• What are the sentencing options?
• Robinson claims a jail sentence would be a 'win'
• Judges ruled Robinson encouraged vigilante action

[11 July 2019 09:51 · Peter Stubley]

Barrister for AG says that while strict liability contempt has only been met with a fine, common law contempt usually attracts a prison sentence.

[11 July 2019 09:55 · Peter Stubley]

Barrister for AG says Robinson has already served the equivalent of nearly 20 weeks imprisonment for contempt. He was jailed on 25 May 2018 and released on 1 August 2018 following his appeal - a total of 69 days in custody.

Mr Eardley mentions the fact Tommy Robinson has spent convictions but does not give details.

[11 July 2019 09:56 · Peter Stubley]

The judges will also have to decide what to do about the suspended sentence (three months) for contempt at Canterbury Crown Court in 2017.

[11 July 2019 09:59 · Peter Stubley]

Katie Hopkins is now in court and already tweeting misleading information about sentences for contempt. While strict liability contempt has only ever been sentenced with a fine, Tommy Robinson was also found in contempt under common law, which usually attracts a jail term. A third finding of contempt was for breaching the reporting restrictions on the criminal trial in Leeds.

[11 July 2019 10:05 · Peter Stubley]

The AG is asking for £25,000 in court costs from Robinson on account - though the full estimate is £31,000.

[11 July 2019 10:09 · Peter Stubley]

Richard Furlong, for Robinson, suggests his client should not have to pay costs if he is jailed.

In mitigation, Mr Furlong asked the court to consider any "actual harm caused" by Robinson's actions.

He said: "Notwithstanding the seriousness of what has been found to be proven against him, in terms of actual harm to the trial of the criminal defendants in Leeds there is no suggestion that the criminal defendants in Leeds did not have a fair trial, notwithstanding his conduct outside the court".

Mr Furlong also asks the court to consider the delay in bringing the current proceedings, saying: "There has been an additional 14 months since the incident on 25 May (2018)."

He adds: "There have been no further instances of contempt."

[11 July 2019 10:09 · Peter Stubley]

Mr Furlong consults with Tommy Robinson before ending his submissions. He then reads out details from previous cases of contempt, pointing out that in recent years newspapers who were found in contempt have been fined.

[11 July 2019 10:13 · Peter Stubley]

"I am also asked to raise the conditions in which the respondent (Robinson) will be kept," says Mr Furlong.

He admits that they are matters for the prison authorities, but says Robinson is likely to be held in solitary confinement for his own safety.

[11 July 2019 10:13 · Peter Stubley]

The judges, Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Warby, leave court to consider their decision.

[11 July 2019 10:22 · Peter Stubley]

Tommy Robinson chatting to his lawyer while awaiting the decision.

Security officers have come up into the dock in readiness for the possible sentence. They are now sitting in court behind the dock.