The former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson is facing a fresh hearing over allegations that he committed contempt of court by allegedly filming people involved in a criminal trial and broadcasting footage on social media.

The attorney general, Geoffrey Cox, has decided it is in the public interest to bring further proceedings against the far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

The first hearing in the case is due to take place at the high court in London on 22 March.

Robinson was jailed for 13 months for contempt of court in May last year after he allegedly filmed people involved in the criminal trial of four men who were later convicted of gang-raping a teenage girl.

But a contempt finding was quashed by the court of appeal in August and he was freed on bail pending new proceedings at the Old Bailey.

Nicholas Hilliard, the recorder of London, then referred the case to Cox in October, after the judge received a statement from Robinson.

The 35-year-old could be sent to jail if he is found in contempt.

Crowds of supporters gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice and the Old Bailey for the previous hearings, and Robinson made an address at the October hearing.

A statement from the attorney general’s office said Cox had reached his decision based on an assessment of the evidence and whether it was in the “wider public interest”.

The attorney general said: “After carefully considering the details of this case, I have concluded there are strong grounds to bring fresh contempt of court proceedings against Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.”

He added: “As proceedings are now under way, it would not be appropriate to comment further and I remind everyone that it is an offence to comment on live court cases.”

Yaxley-Lennon, reacting to the decision, said: “What people should be asking is what’s taken the attorney general five months? What’s taken him five months?

“I walked out of prison for this six months ago. What’s taken him five months? And then it’s going to take them another five months to get me into court. Another five months before a trial.

“How is this in the public interest? This is ongoing state persecution of a journalist who exposes the government, the establishment and all of their wrongs.”

He added: “I, along with the support of the British public, will contest this. I am innocent. I broke no law.”