Tommy Robinson has launched a public appeal for Donald Trump to grant him "political asylum" as he faces imprisonment.

The anti-Islam activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was found to have committed contempt of court last week.

Ahead of his sentencing hearing on Thursday, Robinson appeared on the InfoWars conspiracy channel to broadcast a message to the US president.

“I beg Donald Trump, I beg the American government, to look at my case,” he said on Monday. “I need evacuation from this country because dark forces are at work.”

Robinson claimed that he would be killed if he is jailed, alleging that British prisons are “controlled by jihadi gangs”.

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Show all 16 1 / 16 Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey A Tommy Robinson supporter in London after former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson left the Old Bailey where his contempt of court case was adjourned PA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey A Tommy Robinson supporter outside the Old Bailey in London where the former English Defence League (EDL) leader is accused of contempt of court PA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Tommy Robinson supporters outside the Old Bailey in London before former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson arrives accused of contempt of court PA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson protest at the Old Bailey Courthouse EPA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of former English Defence League leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, or 'Tommy Robinson', who was jailed for contempt of court in May and later released, wait for him to arrive at the Old Bailey to attend a court hearing Reuters Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Tommy Robinson arrives for his hearing at the Old Bailey Reuters Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right spokeseman Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, AKA Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the right-wing EDL (English Defence League) wave flags as they demonstrate outsise The Old Bailey AFP/Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey EPA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey epa07050344 Supporters of former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson protest at the Old Bailey Courthouse in London, Britain, 27 September 2018. The far right figurehead whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon faces a rehearing after winning an appeal against a contempt of court finding last month. EPA/NEIL HALL NEIL HALL EPA Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Robinson gestures to supporters from inside the Old Bailey AFP/Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey Supporters of far-right spokeseman Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, AKA Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the right-wing EDL (English Defence League) demonstrate outside The Old Bailey, London's Central Criminal Court, in central London on September 27, 2018. (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP)DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS AFP/Getty Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey epa07050343 Supporters of former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson protest at the Old Bailey Courthouse in London, Britain, 27 September 2018. The far right figurehead whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon faces a rehearing after winning an appeal against a contempt of court finding last month. EPA/NEIL HALL NEIL HALL EPA

“This is a direct appeal on behalf of my family – we love the United States, I have no future here [in Britain],” he added. “The country has fallen.”

Robinson ranted about “globalists”, the media and “political correctness”, accusing the British government of trying to “silence" him.

Host Alex Jones claimed that Mr Trump “would be watching” and vowed to send a video of Robinson’s appeal to the White House.

There was no immediate comment from the State Department over whether they have received a formal request from Robinson, or would consider one.

A spokesperson said that all visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and that they could not speculate on whether someone may be eligible.

Republican members of the US Congress later invited Robinson to speak in Washington, but he was not granted a visa in time to attend the event in November.

He has previously been refused entry to the US because of criminal convictions for violence, drug possession and public order offences.

Robinson was jailed for using a friend’s passport to travel to New York illegally in 2012.

Tommy Robinson outside the Old Bailey in London after being found in contempt of court by High Court judges ( PA )

An American think-tank, the Middle East Forum, has also been supporting Robinson and funded “Free Tommy” protests after he was jailed last year.

Following a re-hearing of the same case, High Court judges found the 36-year-old had broken a reporting restriction on grooming trials at Leeds Crown Court in May 2018.

The Independent revealed that Robinson’s Facebook live video sparked an application by five defence lawyers to dismiss a jury who were deliberating on charges against men who groomed and raped girls in Huddersfield.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC dismissed the application and the defendants were convicted, in the second of three linked trials that saw 20 men jailed.

Judges ruled that Robinson also interfered with the course of justice by “aggressively confronting and filming” some of the defendants and said his Facebook live “gave rise to a substantial risk that the course of justice in that case would be seriously impeded”.

“In our judgment, the respondent’s conduct in each of those respects amounted to a serious interference with the administration of justice,” said Dame Victoria Sharp.