TOMMY Robinson fans faced off with cops after he was found in contempt of court at a hearing at the Old Bailey today.

Officers armed with batons went up against crowds of fuming supporters who lobbed beer cans, street signs and traffic cones outside court.

12 Supporters of Tommy Robinson face off with officers armed with batons outside the Old Bailey in London after the verdict was given Credit: PA:Press Association

12 Robinson - real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - addressing angry crowds outside court today Credit: PA:Press Association

The former English Defence League leader was met by calls of "Oh Tommy, Tommy" this morning as he nervously rubbed his face.

This afternoon he was found to have committed contempt of court by filming defendants in a criminal trial.

Dame Victoria Sharp, sitting at the Old Bailey with Mr Justice Warby, found him in contempt when he filmed defendants accused of the sexual exploitation of young girls and live-streaming the footage, in breach of a reporting ban, outside Leeds Crown Court in May 2018.

Robinson, wearing a blue jacket, blue shirt and jeans, showed little reaction as the judge announced the decision.

FUMING FANS

In the street outside court there was anger from Robinson supporters as the verdict filtered through.

The former EDL man addressed the crowd saying the verdict was wrong.

He repeated his claims the decision will have a negative impact on press freedom, and told fans: "I've been convicted 'cos of who I am, not what I've done."

Issuing a message to followers on his Telegram social media account, he also wrote: "This is the biggest political stitch up we have ever seen.

"So every single journalist that photographed Tommy going into this court - are they going to be in the Old Bailey and getting guilty of contempt of court?

"British justice system and the establishment stinks."

Despite Robinson's claims, it is not illegal for journalists to take photographs of defendants outside of court, unless a reporting restriction is in place.

A small number of supporters marched towards the front of the Old Bailey's entrance, to barriers sectioning off police from the public.

The crowd began chanting "shame on you" as they pointed at the court.

Robinson was surrounded by journalists and security as he left the court.

A couple of his supporters sprang from the main group to film journalists, calling them scum.

FACING PRISON

In the hearing yesterday Robinson - real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - said he thought he'd been put in jail to be killed, he said he had "given up" as he didn't believe he would be released.

After the prosecutor dubbed him "reckless" he told the court he had legal training and "erred on the side of caution".

Robinson, from Luton, Bedfordshire, could be sent back to jail for up to two years.

The 36-year-old was jailed for 13 months in May 2018 after he filmed people involved in a criminal trial at Leeds Crown Court and broadcast the footage on social media.

His previous jail time included a three-month suspended sentence for contempt at Canterbury Crown Court in May 2017.

But he was freed following the Court of Appeal's decision to quash the finding of contempt made in Leeds.

The case was 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 Sharp and Mr Justice Warby gave permission for a hearing in May.

Yesterday and today, High Court judges heard the new application by the Attorney General Geoffrey Cox QC to send Robinson to prison.

During the hearing at the Old Bailey in June, Andrew Caldecott QC said the Attorney General considers Robinson's conduct during the Leeds Crown Court trial to be of "great concern".

He told the court that in one part of the broadcast, Robinson said of a defendant: "Harass him, find him, go knock on his door, follow him, see where he works, see what he's doing."

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Mr Caldecott said Robinson also discussed how his video would be shared and "hopefully millions" of people would see it.

Yesterday Robinson told the court: "I didn't talk about the first trial, I didn't talk about details".

He added: "I didn't report on the proceedings, I simply reported public information."

Tommy Robinson arrives for contempt of court retrial

12 Angry supporters shouted at cops after they heard Robinson was found in contempt Credit: PA:Press Association

12 A metal barrier separated police from fuming Robinson supporters Credit: PA:Press Association

12 Robinson fans chase cops down the street after the verdict

12 They hurled beer cans, traffic cones and street signs at officers

12 Tommy Robinson arriving at the Old Bailey today for the second day of his contempt hearing Credit: AFP or licensors

12 He rubbed his face nervously as he walked to the London court this morning Credit: AFP or licensors

12 Earlier the former EDL leader made time for some selfies with supporters outside the court Credit: AFP or licensors

12 A supporter posed in a bizarre outfit of a bare chest and a Donald Trump mask Credit: PA:Press Association

12 Robinson gave a slight grimace to the cameras as he walked into the court building Credit: AFP or licensors

12 People gathered to show support ahead of the second day of the hearing Credit: PA:Press Association

Tommy Robinson guilty of contempt of court for Facebook Live broadcast outside sexual grooming trial at Leeds Crown Court

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