Tommy Robinson case: EDL founder denies encouraging violence in contempt hearing as supporters heckle and jeer outside

Updates from the Old Bailey

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

Tommy Robinson denied encouraging violence against defendants in a grooming trial when he gave evidence during contempt of court proceedings.

The 36-year-old former leader of the English Defence League is accused of breaching reporting restrictions by livestreaming a video on Facebook while the jury in that case was considering its verdicts.

He was arrested while still filming and was jailed for 13 months in May 2018, only to be freed on appeal because the hearing was "fundamentally flawed".

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, appeared at the Old Bailey for a new contempt hearing following an application by attorney general Geoffrey Cox.

Outside court around 200 supporters gathered around a makeshift stage in front of a double-decker bus, chanting his name and shouting "shame, shame" at journalists. The case is due to finish on Friday.

Follow updates from court as they happened in our liveblog below

Key Points

• Tommy Robinson denies encouraging violence
• Robinson gives real name before giving evidence
• EDL founder tells supporters: 'I have not broke any law'
• Attorney general claims Robinson 'seriously impeded course of justice'
• Robinson could be jailed for up to two years

[4 July 2019 10:02 · Peter Stubley]

Robinson told his supporters a version of his evidence has been pre-recorded and would play on the screen outside court.

He then leaves the stage and is accompanied into court by police, telling supporters he is already "late".

A number of people wearing placards bearing Robinson's website address attempt to follow him down the fenced-off walkway before being turned back by police.

[4 July 2019 10:10 · Peter Stubley]

If the flags being waved are anything to go by, there are a mixture of British and American supporters in the crowd outside.

[4 July 2019 10:13 · Peter Stubley]

The case is still due to start at 10.30am. The attorney general's legal team are in court, along with roughly 30 journalists. No sign of Tommy Robinson himself yet.

[4 July 2019 10:24 · Peter Stubley]

Robinson has quietly entered the courtroom and is sitting next to his legal team.

[4 July 2019 10:30 · Peter Stubley]

The hearing has started, and Andrew Caldecott QC will be presenting the attorney general's case. He refers to Robinson using his real name, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon

[4 July 2019 10:35 · Peter Stubley]

Mr Caldecott says the phrase contempt of court "does not adequately represent" Robinson's conduct. He lays out the background of the case, which concerns three separate trials, involving a total of 29 men accused of sexual offences, at Leeds Crown Court.

[4 July 2019 10:42 · Peter Stubley]

A court order was made on 9 November 2017 to postpone reporting of the first trial until the conclusion of all three trials.

A similar order was also made in relation to the second trial. It is this order that Yaxley-Lennon is said to have breached.

[4 July 2019 10:43 · Peter Stubley]

This second trial began on 16 April 2018 at Leeds Crown Court.

On 24 May the jury retired to consider their verdicts.

The next day Yaxley-Lennon attended court at 8.15am, before it opened to the public at 8.30am.

[4 July 2019 10:44 · Peter Stubley]

Mr Yaxley-Lennon spoke to a security officer and was alerted to at least the possibility of a reporting restriction - in fact it was he who raised the issue.

He was directed to the court's general office and reception which both opened at 9am.

[4 July 2019 10:45 · Peter Stubley]

"Mr Yaxley-Lennon did not act on any of those suggestions, he went outside, he accosted various of the defendants, he livestreamed on his iPhone the encounters," says Mr Caldecott.