A FURIOUS Tommy Robinson fan attacked a BBC film crew while supporters hurled smoke bombs after the EDL founder was jailed for nine months today.

Robinson called for protests after he was found to have "encouraged mob rule" when he breached a reporting restriction to live-stream a video outside a child grooming trial.

38 A man can be seen appearing to attack a BBC crew during the protests Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

38 Supporters let off smoke bombs as they waited for the verdict

38 Tommy Robinson sent a message to his followers, encouraging them to protest after he was jailed Credit: PA:Press Association

And far-right protesters set EU flags on fire and hurled bottles at police as ugly scenes erupted outside the Old Bailey this afternoon after Robinson was jailed for contempt of court.

As he was caged, the ex-EDL leader told his fans: "Sentenced to prison for journalism.

"Time for protests to start, this is an absolute joke! Protest outside whatever prison I'm in on Saturday please."

He added: "Hopefully by this Saturday, I'm laying there in my cell and I can just hear all your voices outside whichever s***hole HMP I'm in.

THE SUN SAYS: TOMMY ROT STEPHEN Yaxley-Lennon isn’t a journalist. He’s a thug, an extremist, and he nearly collapsed a grooming gang trial. A freedom fighter, a free speech campaigner? Rubbish. He’s a grandstanding idiot who stirs up anti-Muslim hatred in the sewers of social media. As for his commitment to reporting, after he was sent down yesterday his supporters attacked reporters. “Tommy” claims to speak for Britain. But his intolerant, ugly vision for this great modern country isn’t one that we’ve got the slightest bit of interest in. And the public have already given their verdict on him. After all, he stood for election earlier this year. When he received a whopping two per cent of the vote — and lost his deposit.



"Just want to say to everyone I appreciate whilst I'm in there I know people will be fighting for me. But I'll be fine in there."

Last week, a two-day hearing at the Old Bailey had found the 36-year-old jeopardised the grooming trial by live-streaming men accused of the sexual exploitation of young girls on Facebook, in breach of a reporting ban, outside Leeds Crown Court in May 2018.

But as the judge's decision filtered to Robinson's supporters outside, they could be heard screaming "We want Tommy out" and "you know it's wrong".

Hundreds of far-right supporters then started an unplanned march through London's streets towards the Houses of Parliament.

38 A protester is detained by police after scuffles broke out outside parliament Credit: Getty Images - Getty

38 Tommy Robinson fans were furious with the sentencing as they confronted cops outside the court Credit: London News Pictures

38 Tommy Robinson supporters set fire to an EU flag outside Parliament Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

38 Dramatic photos show how police and protesters clashed on the streets of the capital Credit: gavin rodgers/pixel8000

38 A protester and cop are locked in a stand off Credit: Alamy Live News

38 Police can be seen armed with batons as protesters and officers clashed Credit: Alamy Live News

38 Protesters wave signs that read 'Corrupt' and calling for Robinson to be released Credit: Reuters

There, one furious protester was seen swinging a pole at BBC news crews covering the rally.

Clashing with police, protesters were heard chanting "paedo protectors" and "you're not English anymore" at officers. And another was seen burning an EU flag as tempers flared and terrified tourists were herded into Westminster Abbey.

Furious protesters clashed on the streets during the rally, with footage emerging of a Muslim woman in a head dress outside of Parliament telling them "I live here too".

But the thugs can be heard shouting "Islam out of the UK" back at her.

Bottles thrown as trouble flares in crowd after Tommy Robinson sentenced to nine months in prison for contempt of court

CONTEMPT DEFINED: What is contempt of court and why can you be jailed for it? In the UK, a person can be found in contempt of court if they wilfully defy a court order. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, the main types of the offence can be physically interfering in a trial, threatening witnesses or obstructing justice. Showing disrespect to a judge can also be contempt of the court. If someone is in contempt of the Magistrates' Court, a person can be imprisoned for one month or face a fine of up to £2,500. But for those in contempt of a crown court, they can be jailed for up to two years or face a fine. In the UK, media can only report the facts of a case. In the US, contempt of court is generally not considered to be a criminal offence. Due to the First Amendment, the media outlet cannot be found in contempt of court.

City of London Police confirmed eight people had been arrested at today's protests on suspicion of offences committed during last week's protests.

Four men, 34, 44, 52 and 60 were arrested for affray, on Friday last week.

Today, a woman aged 28, and two men aged 60 and 50 were arrested for affray. A 61-year-old woman was arrested for a public order offence.

Robinson's sentence will see him serve about two and a half months in prison as he has already served ten weeks and he will be released on licence halfway through his jail term.

His sentence was made up of six months for the Leeds contempt, plus three months for an earlier contempt committed at Canterbury Crown Court in 2017.

Inside court, Robinson reportedly flashed a V for Victory sign to the public gallery and winked as the judge's decision was handed down.

Sentencing Robinson, Dame Victoria Sharp scolded him for having "lied about a number of matters"

38 A Muslim woman was confronted in the streets by the Tommy Robinson supporters Credit: The Sun Online

38 Tempers have continued to flare on the streets of London Credit: Getty Images - Getty

38 The protesters descended on Westminster after 36-year-old Robinson was sent down Credit: PA:Press Association

38 Scared tourists were herded back into Westminster Abbey Credit: gavin rodgers/pixel8000

38 Danny Tommo addresses Tommy Robinson supporters outside the Houses of Parliament Credit: PA:Press Association

38 Tommy Robinson encouraged protests after the sentence was announced this morning Credit: Darren Fletcher - The Sun

38 Hundreds of Robinson fans marched to Parliament after the sentence was delivered Credit: Getty Images - Getty

She said: "We are in no doubt that the custody threshold is passed in this case. The main purpose of the penalty is punishment and deterrence - and the court's determination to uphold the rule of law."

She said that the purpose of sentencing for contempt was "punishment and deterrence" of Robinson, adding: "The court is also concerned to demonstrate its determination to uphold the rule of law."

But Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, today remained defiant, arriving for today's court appearance in a shirt reading "Convicted of Journalism" and in paint-splattered jeans.

Sentenced to prison for journalism. Time for protests to start, this is an absolute joke Tommy Robinson

The back of his shirt read "Britain = North Korea" while he wore a badge with the slogan "I support soldiers A-Z".

He had been lambasted by the judge as he walked into court ten minutes late for today's sentencing.

Robinson's barrister Richard Furlong apologised for his late arrival, saying he had been delayed by the "number of people outside who are here to support him".

But Dame Sharp told him "it's not a great start".

After deliberating for about an hour, Dame Sharp said in sentencing: "The respondent (Robinson) cannot be given credit for pleading guilty.

"He has lied about a number of matters and sought to portray himself as the victim of unfairness and oppression.

"This does not increase his sentence, but it does mean that there can be no reduction for an admission of guilt."

Robinson has 28 days to lodge an appeal.

38 Smoke bombs were hurled during the protests

38 Tommy Robinson fans confronted armoured cops after the sentencing Credit: Getty Images - Getty

38 Tommy Robinson has been sentenced to nine months behind bars for contempt of court Credit: PA:Press Association

38 Tommy Robinson supporters chanted for the EDL founder to be released after he was sentenced to time behind bars Credit: PA:Press Association

38 Fans chanted 'Oh Tommy' as they protested his sentence Credit: Getty Images - Getty

38 Robinson supporters hold up an England flag in front of police Credit: Getty Images - Getty

38 Smoke was seen billowing in the streets as protesters marched through London Credit: Darren Fletcher - The Sun

38 Two men were seen clambering onto the top of a tourist bus during the Robinson protests Credit: The Sun Online

38 The crowds chanted Tommy's name over and over again Credit: The Sun Online

38 A man appears to be arrested during the Robinson protests Credit: London News Pictures

38 An impromptu march through London was sparked after the sentencing Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

38 Robinson's shirt had the words Britain = North Korea on the back Credit: London News Pictures

38 Katie Hopkins speaks with Tommy before heading into court Credit: PA:Press Association

38 Katie Hopkins hugs Tommy Robinson as he arrives in court Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

38 A Robinson fan holds up a Union Jack flag during protests Credit: Getty Images - Getty

38 A milkshake was thrown during the melee Credit: Sun Online

Robinson had previously claimed in court he would be killed in revenge attacks if he was put behind bars.

Katie Hopkins was among those to support Robinson today, pictured hugging him before he walked inside.

It comes after Robinson's supporters faced off with cops last week when he was found guilty of committing contempt of court.

Giving reasons for the decision on Tuesday, Dame Victoria said Robinson encouraged "vigilante action" in the video, which lasted an hour-and-a-half and was viewed online 250,000 times on the morning of the broadcast.

The judge said the words he used in the video would have been understood by viewers as "an incitement" to harass the defendants and "gave rise to a real risk the course of justice would be seriously impeded".

UGLY SCENES

Throughout the Old Bailey hearing, Robinson denied any wrongdoing, saying he did not believe he was breaching reporting restrictions and only referred to information that was already in the public domain.

But Dame Victoria and Mr Justice Warby found he was in contempt by breaching the reporting restriction imposed on the trial, by live-streaming the video from outside the public entrance to the court and by "aggressively confronting and filming" some of the defendants.

And Robinson this week made a bizarre plea to Donald Trump to grant him asylum in the US.

Robinson, from Luton, Bedfordshire, broadcast the footage while the jury in the second of a series of linked grooming trials was considering its verdict.

The video was eventually viewed 3.4 million times after being shared following his arrest.

A reporting restriction was in place which postponed the publication of any details of the case until the end of all the trials involving 29 people, in a bid to ensure all defendants received a fair trial.

Robinson was jailed for 13 months after being found in contempt of court on the day of the broadcast.

He served two months in jail before being freed after the original finding of contempt was overturned by the Court of Appeal in August 2018.

Vile thugs shouted ‘Islam out of the UK’ as they confronted a Muslim woman who said ‘I live here too’

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But the case was then referred back to the Attorney General, who announced in March that it was in the public interest to bring fresh proceedings against Robinson. Dame Victoria and Mr Justice Warby gave permission for the Attorney General to bring a new case against Robinson at a hearing in May.

Anyone found in contempt of court can be jailed for up to two years, receive an unlimited fine, or both.

38 Protesters have been giving speeches using microphones to share messages of support for Robinson Credit: Reuters

38 Robinson took a video of himself as he walked into court Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

38 Supporters chanted Tommy's name and applauded as he walked into court Credit: PA:Press Association

38 Passionate supporters chanted outside court, including 'We Want Tommy Out' Credit: Richard Wheatstone - The Sun Online

38 Supporters waved signs as they waited outside the court for Robinson's sentencing Credit: PA:Press Association