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The English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson has been jailed for 13 months for contempt of court.

Robinson, 35, was sentenced on Friday after protesting outside Leeds Crown Court - but Robinson's case can only be reported today after a judge lifted restrictions.

The right wing activist was taken into custody for breach of the peace as he streamed an hour long Facebook Live outside the building, footage which was watched 250,000 times.

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.

Details of the trial cannot be reported for legal reasons. Robinson's broadcast breached these strict rules and impacted on the defendants' right to a fair trial.

Jailing him for 13 months, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC told Robinson: “No one could possibly conclude that it would be anything other than highly prejudicial to the defendants in the trial.

(Image: Facebook) (Image: Getty/PA)

“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."

The judge said Robinson's actions could have meant a re-trial, "costing hundreds and hundreds and thousands of pounds", Leeds Live reported.

(Image: Facebook)

The judge added: “It is a serious feature that you were encouraging others to share what you were streaming live on social media.”

Jailing the married father-of-three, the judge said: “People have to understand that if they breach court orders there will be very real consequences.”

Details of Robinson's imprisonment were initially subject to a court order banning any press coverage, but this was lifted today after representations from the media.

Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was seen being led towards the back of a police van and searched in footage posted on his Facebook page.

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

(Image: Facebook)

His arrest sparked mass protests outside Downing Street over the weekend as supporters demanded his release.

Police officers were deployed to keep the crowd under control.

Many could be seen holding #FreeTommy placards, one reading "Free the truth teller. Free Tommy".

The protest eventually made its way down to Parliament Square. The Met Police said there were no arrests.

In the footage of Robinson's arrest, he asks one supporter as he is led away: "Can you get me a solicitor? I'm on a suspended sentence, you see."

One officer in the footage says before reading Robinson his rights: "You are being arrested on suspicion of causing a breach of the peace."

(Image: REX/Shutterstock) (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

The video footage was played to the judge as Robinson sat in the dock.

Robinson, whose criminal record dates back to 2005, has a previous conviction for contempt of court.

He was the subject of a suspended prison sentence, imposed at Canterbury Crown Court, after he filmed in court.

He also has convictions for disobeying a court order, possessing identity documents with intent, fraud, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing drugs and threatening behaviour.

He pleaded guilty to contempt of court and breach of a suspended sentence.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Matthew Harding, mitigating, said his client felt "deep regret" after realising the potential consequences of his actions.

The barrister added: "He was mindful, having spoken to others and taken advice, not to say things that he thought would actually prejudice these proceedings.

"He did not try to cause difficulties for the court process."

Mr Harding said Robinson had been the victim of assaults while serving time in prison before and there had been "a price on his head" during his last prison term with inmates being offered the reward of drugs and mobile phones to kill him.

Robinson founded the English Defence League in Luton in 2009 before resigning in 2013.

The organisation was responsible for violent marches on the streets where members clashed with police and counter-demonstrators.