Tommy Robinson’s conviction and organizer Daniel Thomas’s detention have raised questions about Britain’s anti-migrant movement’s leadership if Robinson is imprisoned, Joe Mulhall, research director at Hope Not Hate, told The Guardian.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Southwark Crown Court convicted Robinson on Oct. 28 of two counts of harassment causing fear of violence. Section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 covers a course of conduct that causes someone to fear, on at least two occasions, that violence will be used against them. A conviction on indictment carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
The CPS said Robinson contacted journalists Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber through social media and telephone calls and published images related to them and their families. It said the journalists feared violence. The Associated Press reported that one journalist and his family left their home, while the other received additional security; it also said Robinson was granted bail before sentencing.
The Associated Press linked the case to Daily Mail coverage of Robinson’s social media posts about unrest after the 2024 Southport murders. The outlet reported that he made the posts while on holiday in Cyprus.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, was charged Sept. 24 with criminal damage and an offense under Section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for allegedly failing to disclose his phone PIN. The Independent reported that a judge refused him bail Sept. 29.
Mulhall told The Guardian that smaller groups may sustain local activity while no prominent successor to Robinson is apparent. Searchlight reported that Billy Cooper organized a Basingstoke gathering attended by about 100 activists while Thomas was in custody. The outlet questioned whether Cooper could draw support nationally.
The Independent reported that Thomas’s next hearing is Nov. 12. The News, Portsmouth, reported a provisional trial date of March 1, 2027. Robinson is due to be sentenced Dec. 16.
