Tommy Robinson begs Donald Trump to grant him asylum in US as he faces jail sentence in the UK

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Tommy Robinson has launched a public appeal for Donald Trump to grant him asylum in the US as he faces being jailed in the UK.

The EDL founder was found in contempt of court last week after filming defendants on trial and broadcasting it on social media in breach of a reporting ban.

He begged the US president for help and asked that his administration analyse the case in the hope he would be granted political asylum in the US.

In the desperate plea shared on the InfoWars channel on Monday, Robinson said: “I feel like I’m two days away from being sentenced to death in the UK.”

Tommy Robinson outside the Old Bailey in London after being found in contempt of court
PA

Robinson, real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, added: “I beg Donald Trump, I beg the American government, to look at my case.”

The appeal continued: “I need evacuation from this country because dark forces are at work.”

Tommy Robinson (blue jacket centre) arrives at the Old Bailey
PA

Robinson went on to claim he would be killed in jail and that British prisons are “controlled by jihadi gangs”

It came as judges were set to give their detailed reasons for the contempt ruling the High Court on Tuesday.

In his message intended Mr Trump, Robinson said: “This is a direct appeal on behalf of my family – we love the United States, I have no future here [in the UK].”

Robinson filmed defendants accused of the sexual exploitation of young girls and live-streamed the footage, in breach of a reporting ban, outside Leeds Crown Court in May 2018.

He denied any wrongdoing, saying he did not believe he was breaching reporting restrictions and only referred to information that was already in the public domain.

But Dame Victoria Sharp, sitting at the Old Bailey with Mr Justice Warby, found Robinson in contempt in three respects.

Robinson showed little reaction as the judge announced the decision.

Dame Victoria said the court would consider what penalty to impose for the contempt and give full reasons for the decision at a later date.

A reporting restriction was in place which postponed the publication of any details of the case until the end of a series of linked trials involving 29 people, in a bid to ensure all defendants received a fair trial.

Robinson is expected to be sentenced on Thursday. Contempt of court carries a maximum sentence of two years.

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