Tommy Robinson is due to be released from prison within the next week after his 18-month sentence for the civil offence of contempt of court was reduced by four months at the High Court after he showed a “change in attitude”. The Mail has the story.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was jailed last October after admitting multiple breaches of an injunction made in 2021, which barred him from repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him for libel.
The sentence comprised a 14-month ‘punitive’ element and a four-month ‘coercive’ element, with sentencing judge Mr Justice Johnson telling Robinson he could have the latter taken off his sentence if he were to “purge” his contempt by taking steps to comply with the injunction.
Robinson, who was previously due to be released on July 26th, applied to purge his contempt at a hearing today, with his lawyers telling the court that he had shown a “commitment” to comply with the order.
Lawyers for the Solicitor General said they agreed that Robinson had taken steps to adhere to the injunction.
In a ruling, Mr Justice Johnson said that there was an “absence of contrition or remorse” from Robinson, but that he had shown a “change in attitude” since he was sentenced.
He said: “He (Robinson) has given an assurance that he will comply with the injunction in the future, that he has no intention of breaching it again, and that he is aware of the consequences of what would happen if he breached the injunction again.”
He continued: “I consider it appropriate to grant the application.”
He added: “The practical effect, subject to confirmation by the prison authorities, is that the defendant will be released once he has completed the punitive element, which I understand will be within the next week.”
Robinson, who attended the hearing via video-link from HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes, showed no immediate reaction once the judgment was handed down.
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