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Tommy Robinson was thrown behind bars for 13 months last week, but no-one was allowed to know why until today.

The ex-English Defence League leader live-streamed a Facebook video from outside Leeds Crown Court that was watched 250,000 times.

The video included comments that could have caused the collapse of a long-running trial, costing hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The media - including anyone using Facebook Live - were banned from reporting details of the trial until it finished.

As well as breaching this order, Robinson also made comments that impacted on the defendants' right to a fair hearing before a jury.

But Robinson's arrest was not simply a straight-forward case about freedom of speech, despite what his supporters have said on social media, Leeds Live reported.

(Image: Facebook)

His arrest and conviction were to protect our justice system - under legislation that ensure trials don't collapse.

The law ensures defendants receive a fair trial, that justice can be done and to try and prevent any witnesses from giving evidence and being cross-examined again in a painful re-trial.

Robinson's supporters have staged protests, started petitions and cried out that his jailing is an assault on freedom of speech in the UK.

Here we explain exactly why the 35-year-old has been locked up - and why the media were unable to legally report it until now.

(Image: Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS.com)

Why was Tommy Robinson jailed?

Robinson, or Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was jailed because he was found in contempt of court - an offence he was already serving a suspended sentence for.

A judge sentenced him to three months imprisonment suspended for 18 months last May, after he was found in contempt of court over a case in Canterbury.

He was warned that committing further offences would result in imprisonment - and that is what happened on Friday.

Robinson was arrested after filming himself via Facebook Live outside the court.

Eventually, the 35-year-old was arrested on suspicion of a breach of the peace and was held in the court cells before being taken up to the courtroom to face the trial judge.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

In a rare move, he was arrested, charged and sentenced within five hours.

The video footage was played to Judge Geoffrey Marson QC as Robinson sat in the dock.

His comments on the film had the potential to cause the collapse of a long-running trial at a cost of hundreds of thousands of pounds to the taxpayer, as well as impacting on the defendants' right to a fair trial.

Contempt of court legislation largely applies to media publications - but as Robinson was broadcasting live on Facebook to the 778,280 people who like his page, and his 848,100 followers - he can be deemed a publisher in his own right.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC told him: “I respect everyone’s right to free speech. That’s one of the most important rights that we have.

“With those rights come responsibilities. The responsibility to exercise that freedom of speech within the law.

“I am not sure you appreciate the potential consequence of what you have done."

(Image: Facebook)

What is contempt of court?

The Contempt of Court Act 1981 protects the integrity of court proceedings in the UK - it ensures defendants receive a fair trial and makes any actions that could prejudice proceedings, (i.e. publishing something that could influence a juror's opinion of a defendant) an offence that carries a jail sentence of up to two years.

The act applies to 'active' criminal proceedings - from the point of arrest to the jury's verdict.

During active cases, the media cannot publish anything that carries a substantial risk of serious prejudice to proceedings - this applies to broadcast reports and speeches too.

Robinson's broadcast outside court put him in contempt of court.

Offences like his can cause a trial to collapse, as the jury may be deemed unable to deliver a fair verdict - at great cost to the court (and therefore the British taxpayer).

A mistrial means beginning the process all over again, with witnesses and alleged victims forced to give evidence a second time.

(Image: Huddersfield Examiner/MEN Media)

Reporting restrictions

Additional reporting restrictions can be applied by judges if they feel publication of certain information carries a risk of serious prejudice.

This can, in certain cases, mean reporting anything about an ongoing trial is prohibited until a verdict is reached.

It is not a permanent ban on publishing court reports, simply a postponement.

Why couldn't we report on Robinson's arrest and jailing?

A reporting restriction was applied to Robinson's arrest, charge and hearing on Friday.

Although publications were aware of the proceedings anf reporters were present for his sentencing, they could not legally report the story on Friday.

The restriction didn't mean the case could not be reported at all - it just postponed reporting of the proceedings until there was no risk of his case prejudicing another trial.

Today, reporters successfully challenged the reporting restriction and it was lifted by the judge.