Tommy Robinson to Be Freed Early After Sentence Cut in Court Ruling

Tommy Robinson is expected to walk free from prison within days, after a High Court judge agreed to shorten his 18-month contempt of court sentence.

Robinson, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had originally been set for release in late July. But a court hearing this week concluded that the activist had taken enough steps to comply with a long-standing court injunction — and therefore qualified for early release.

He appeared at the hearing via video from HMP Woodhill, and according to reports, didn't react visibly when the ruling came through.

A Sentence Sparked by False Allegations

The case goes back to a 2021 injunction issued after Robinson made a series of false claims about Jamal Hijazi, a Syrian refugee who had already successfully sued him for libel. The court barred Robinson from repeating the damaging allegations — but he did anyway.

He admitted to ten breaches, including publishing a film called Silenced, which restated the discredited claims. That film was posted to his social media and later screened during a public rally. He also repeated the allegations in interviews throughout 2023.

Judge: No Remorse, But a “Shift in Attitude”

The 18-month sentence included:

• 14 months as punishment, and

• 4 months meant to coerce future compliance — which could be dropped if Robinson followed the court’s orders.

Robinson applied to have the coercive part removed, claiming he’d done what the court had asked. His lawyers pointed to steps taken to remove content and an assurance that he wouldn’t repeat the actions again.

In court, Mr Justice Johnson noted there was “no real sign of remorse”, but he acknowledged a “change in attitude” and agreed to reduce the sentence.

“He’s made it clear he intends to comply from here on out,” the judge stated, adding that Robinson understood what would happen if he breached the order again.

With the coercive element removed, Robinson is now expected to finish the punitive portion within the coming week.

The Long Road to Release

Since his sentence in October 2024, Robinson has made several attempts to shorten his time behind bars — all of which had failed until now. He lost legal challenges against his prison segregation and also had an appeal against the sentence itself rejected in April.

However, the courts consistently left the door open: if he purged his contempt by showing compliance with the original injunction, his sentence could be reduced.

Background: The Viral Video and What Followed

The original court order stemmed from a 2018 school assault incident in Huddersfield. A video of the event went viral, sparking international headlines. Robinson responded on Facebook, falsely accusing Jamal Hijazi of attacking girls — claims that were proven untrue in a libel trial.

A judge ordered Robinson to pay £100,000 in damages, plus legal fees. The court also issued a ban on him repeating those claims — a ban he later violated repeatedly.

What Happens Now?

Robinson’s release doesn’t mean his legal troubles are over. The injunction remains active, and any future breaches could put him right back in court — or behind bars again.

As of now, he hasn’t issued any public statement about the court’s decision. But with his release only days away, observers are watching closely to see whether he stays within the legal boundaries this time — or finds himself back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.