Tommy Robinson appointed Ukip adviser on rape gangs and prison reform

Former EDL leader described as having 'great knowledge' by Ukip leader Gerard Batten

Tommy Robinson with a supporter dressed as Donald Trump addressing a crowd outside the Old Bailey from a stage on 23 October (AFP/Getty)

Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the English Defence League (EDL), has been appointed as an adviser to Ukip.

The anti-Islam activist, whose real name is Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, will advise the party’s leader, Gerard Batten, on rape gangs and prison reform.

Robinson was described by Mr Batten as having “great knowledge” about the subjects.

Mr Batten said: "I have appointed Tommy Robinson to be a personal special adviser on two subjects which he has great knowledge.

"It is not necessary for him to be a party member in order to assist me in this role I am looking forward to working with him."

Robinson, a former member of the British National Party (BNP), has had a series of run-ins with the law and has been convicted and jailed in the past.

Years before he founded the EDL in 2009, Robinson was convicted of an assault, reportedly on an off-duty police officer.

Robinson was also imprisoned in 2013 for using a passport in the name of Andrew McMaster to travel to the US.

Other convictions include drugs and public order offences and he was jailed in 2014 for 18 months for mortgage fraud.

After the passport conviction, he said that going to prison was the best thing that ever happened to him .

Robinson was recently jailed for 13 months for contempt of court in relation to his activities filming people involved in a grooming case.

The sentence was later quashed and the case has been referred to the Attorney General.