TOMMY Robinson has claimed he was the victim of "mental torture" and held in solitary confinement as he walked free from jail yesterday.

The English Defence League founder (EDL) hugged friends as he left Onley Prison after a judge overturned his conviction for contempt of court

12 Tommy Robinson leaves Onley Prison in Rugby this afternoon Credit: PA:Press Association

Breaking his silence in a video posted to his YouTube channel, Robinson claimed: "Home sweet home. I've got so much to say... but I feel anxious.

"What they tried to do was to mentally destroy me. That wasn't a prison sentence, that was mental torture."

He added; "If I was bitter and angry I would accept my own victimhood. I'm not their victim, I'm their target."

Robinson was sentenced to 13 months in prison earlier this year after broadcasting footage of trial defendants on social media. He claimed he was “reporting” on a grooming trial involving 28 Asian men.

12 Robinson speaks to security staff as he leaves the jail near Rugby this afternoon Credit: PA:Press Association

12 Tommy Robinson marches past reporters outside Onley Prison yesterday Credit: PA:Press Association

During his Facebook Live stream he referred to specific details about the defendants and questioned why publication was prohibited.

The judge also said that he considered it a “seriously aggravating factor” that Robinson was asking people to share his video, legal documents explain.

But the 35-year-old is now a free man again after the Court of Appeal ruled there were technical flaws in the ruling of the judge who jailed him.

The original judge was found to have "rushed" Robinson’s trial and as a result the court did not hear which parts of his offending footage was problematic.

12 Tommy Robinson refuses to give interviews as he marches past journalists outside Onley Prison Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

12 Robinson led through a crowd of reporters and photographer's by a friend Credit: Caters News Agency

Tommy Robinson's emotional reunion with his kids as he reveals he is off on a family holiday to Tenerife after he's freed from prison

This meant that he could not defend himself properly, the Court of Appeal heard.

Speaking out after his release, Robinson said: "I want to thank the British public for all their support."

Later he posted a YouTube video showing the moment he was reunited with his two kids - who he revealed had taken his imprisonment hard.

Robinson also revealed his release from prison will mean he will be able to join his family on their imminent summer holiday to Tenerife.

On the Free Tommy Robinson Facebook page a post from politicalite.com said he was "over the moon" about the ruling.

The Facebook post said: "Tommy just called his family from prison to ask what the outcome was - he said prisoners were shouting that he was going home but he did not want to believe them. He is over the moon."

12 Tommy Robinson was arrested outside Leeds Crown Court in May

12 Tommy Robinson supporters cheer outside the Court of Appeal yesterday Credit: PA:Press Association

Moment English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson was arrested

The three top judges presiding over Robinson's case added that as a result of the "muddled" hearing Robinson was treated with "unfairness".

The allegations against Robinson will be reheard at The Old Bailey later this year - possibly as early as September.

Announcing the decision to free Robinson, Lord Burnett told the court: "The appellant is granted bail and the matter of contempt at Leeds Crown Court is remitted to be heard again."

Robinson supporters wearing 'Free Tommy' t-shirts cheered and burst into tears outside the Court of Appeal yesterday, after months of campaigning for his release.

THE SUN SAYS TOMMY Robinson is a nasty thug and a grandstanding idiot. He is not a freedom fighter. Nor is he the hero he is made out to be in the sewer which social media has become. Nor is he a “reporter” fearlessly exposing an establishment cover-up of rapes by gangs of Asian men. That scandal has been exposed by actual journalists. In fact Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, almost wrecked the trial of some accused of serious crime, thus potentially denying both them and their alleged victims justice. Yesterday he was freed on appeal over his contempt of court. Supporters say he was locked up too hastily and for too long. But he was already serving a suspended sentence for the same offence. His many convictions stretch from violence to fraud. We have no sympathy. The case he jeopardised in Leeds had reporting restrictions, temporarily preventing details being publicised. They’re neither unusual nor a politically-correct cover-up. They’re to avoid prejudicing and collapsing other trials linked to it. Robinson blatantly flouted them, was in contempt — and admitted it. Yes, our legal system IS too secretive. On this occasion it was crucial in the interests of justice. It’s time his supporters grasped it.

Judges were urged to overturn the original findings against the far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon.

There were also mass protests against his sentence, with scenes turning ugly on the streets of London as campaigners called for Robinson to be freed.

At a hearing in July, his QC Jeremy Dein argued that procedural "deficiencies" had given rise to "prejudice".

Mr Dein also submitted that "insufficient" regard had been given to Robinson's personal mitigation - factors which could reduce a sentence, like an early guilty plea - and as a result his sentence was "manifestly excessive".

Robinson's footage was watched 250,000 times within hours of being posted on Facebook.

12 Robinson supporters celebrate him being freed from jail Credit: PA:Press Association

12 Robinson supporters celebrate outside the Court of Appeal Credit: Reuters

12 Anti-racism campaigners were also present outside the court yesterday Credit: Reuters

WHAT IS NEXT FOR TOMMY ROBINSON? Tommy Robinson’s conviction for contempt of court was quashed by an appeal judge. In May, the far-right campaigner was sentenced to 10 months in prison for prejudicing trial proceedings at Leeds Crown Court. But now the 35-year-old will be freed after a judge was found to have rushed proceedings against him. Robinson will have to reappear to face the Leeds charges again in a fresh trial at The Old Bailey - which could be as early as September this year. In May he was also sentenced to a further three months after breaching a suspended sentence for a previous contempt offence in Canterbury last year. His conviction for contempt in Canterbury has been upheld.

Tommy Robinson protesters block bus of female Muslim driver at London demo

He was detained outside Leeds Crown Court after using social media to broadcast details of a trial which is subject to blanket reporting restrictions.

Robinson was given 10 months for contempt of court, which he admitted, and a further three months for breaching a previous suspended sentence.

Jailing him, Judge Geoffrey Marson told Robinson that it was a "serious aggravating feature" that he was encouraging others to share it and it had been shared widely.

He added: "Everyone understands the right to freedom of speech but there are responsibilities and obligations.

"I am not sure you appreciate the potential consequence of what you have done. People have to understand that if they breach court orders there will be very real consequences."

It was the second time Robinson had breached court orders, having narrowly avoided jail in May last year over footage he filmed during the trial of four men who were later convicted of gang-raping a teenage girl.

12 Protesters calling for the release of Tommy Robinson clashed with police in Central London Credit: AFP or licensors

12 Police held back thugs as they gathered in Whitehall during demonstrations against Robinson's sentence Credit: AFP or licensors

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.

The judge on that occasion gave him a three-month suspended sentence and told him his punishment was not about "freedom of speech or freedom of the press" but about "justice and ensuring that a trial can be carried out justly and fairly".

Mr Dein argued during the recent appeal proceedings that the findings of contempt of court on each occasion should be quashed as a "conglomeration of procedural deficiencies" had given rise to prejudice.

The QC said the proceedings in Leeds had been "unnecessarily and unjustifiably rushed".

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He told the judges: "We maintain it is of particular importance that right from the outset the appellant, albeit in a very stressful and difficult situation, offered to have the live stream taken down and contact people who could do so."

There had been no intention to disrupt the trial or to breach any order, Mr Dein said.

Far right protesters clashed with police at a London rally calling for jailed Tommy Robinson to be freed

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