The founder of the English Defence League, "Tommy Robinson", has had his conviction for contempt of court quashed as the Court of Appeal orders a new trial.

The far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was released from prison on bail after three judges ruled that he was jailed earlier this year following a series of procedural “flaws”.

Robinson, 35, had been convicted of contempt in May after broadcasting on Facebook a 1.5 hour video from outside Leeds Crown Court about a case which has a blanket reporting restriction imposed for legal reasons. His footage was watched by 250,000 people when it went live.

Within hours of posting the video online he was brought before Judge Geoffrey Marson QC in Leeds and jailed for 10 months with an extra three extra months for an earlier suspended sentence for contempt.

Yesterday the Court of Appeal found that that judge had rushed into proceedings despite Robinson having removed the video from the internet.