A court hearing over whether Tommy Robinson committed contempt of court during a grooming gang trial has been postponed.

The attorney general announced earlier this month that it was in the public interest to bring new proceedings against the former leader of the English Defence League after he allegedly breached a blanket reporting restriction on an ongoing case at Leeds Crown Court.

The footage was watched 250,000 times within hours of being posted on Facebook and sparked a defence application to dismiss the jury, which was refused.

The four men on trial were later convicted of raping a teenage girl as part of a wider Huddersfield grooming gang.

A preliminary hearing for Robinson’s case was due to take place at the High Court in London on 22 March, but the court confirmed on Tuesday that the case would not be heard until sometime after 3 May.

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

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, complained about the delay in a YouTube video and appealed for donations for legal costs.

But The Independent understands that Robinson's own lawyers requested the postponement from the High Court, saying more time was required to prepare evidence.

The anti-Islam activist was jailed for contempt of court in May 2018. The sentence sparked a series of protests and crowds of supporters gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice and the Old Bailey for previous hearings.

The contempt finding was quashed by the Court of Appeal over procedural failings in August and Robinson was freed on bail, but Geoffrey Cox QC said there was enough evidence to bring fresh contempt proceedings.

If found guilty, Robinson faces up to two years prison.

The 36-year-old has vowed to contest, “along with the support of the British public”, the attorney general's decision, adding: “I am innocent. I broke no law.”

The development comes days after Robinson lost a court case in which he claimed he was a victim of police harassment.

The far-right figurehead had claimed he was "humiliated" when Cambridgeshire Police officers used a dispersal order to eject him from Cambridge pub, telling Peterborough County Court he was “targeted” due to his beliefs.