Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, has lost his appeal against an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court.
The right-wing activist was jailed in October after defying a court order that barred him from repeating false claims about a Syrian refugee who had previously won a libel case against him.
The 42-year-old challenged the sentence on Friday, arguing that his solitary confinement at HMP Woodhill was negatively affecting his mental health. However, on Wednesday, the Court of Appeal rejected his appeal.
“The judge’s application of the law and his reasoning on the appropriate sanction in this case both exhibit a meticulous approach,” said Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, Lord Justice Edis, and Lord Justice Warby in their joint ruling.
A spokesperson for the attorney general’s office responded to the decision by saying Yaxley-Lennon’s sentence “reflected how gravely the court considers contempt.” They added, “We respect the court’s decision to refuse permission to appeal the sentence imposed.”
This marks Yaxley-Lennon’s second legal defeat in less than a month, following a failed attempt in March to challenge the conditions of his segregation in prison.
His current prison term stems from violations of a court order issued after he lost a costly libel lawsuit in 2021. Robinson had falsely accused a Syrian teenager of being violent in an online video and later repeated the claim, including at a public rally in Trafalgar Square. He ultimately admitted to 10 breaches of the court order.
The judge who handed down the sentence last October acknowledged concerns for Robinson’s safety, noting that isolation might be necessary. He is currently held in a secure wing at Woodhill prison in Milton Keynes, with access to staff, a phone, and a laptop.
