Tommy Robinson supporters bring chaos to London as they march on Parliament after far-right activist is jailed for contempt of court

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A number of Tommy Robinson supporters have been arrested following protests after the far-right activist was jailed for contempt of court.

Robinson’s supporters, who had gathered outside the Old Bailey for his sentencing hearing today, marched through the streets of London to Parliament Square.

City of London Police said four arrests were made in relation to the protests, although the alleged offences were committed on Friday - during Robinson's last appearance at the Old Bailey.

Three were arrested outside the Old Bailey, while a 50-year-old man was held in Westminster. Four further arrests were made on Friday.

A protester in the march from the Old Bailey towards Parliament Square
Luke Dray/Getty Images

Robinson was today sentenced to nine months in prison for putting a child sex ring trial in peril and encouraging “vigilante action” among his supporters.

Angry protesters tore down EU flags as they marched. Meanwhile, journalists filming on the College Garden were verbally abused, physically intimidated and had their equipment attacked before police officers arrived.

There were further angry clashes with police outside Westminster Abbey after one protester was pinned to the ground by police officers before being bundled into the back of a van.

Other members of the group confronted police, threw drinks and sat on either side of the van to stop it moving.

Family law barrister Jasvir Singh, who witnessed the first part of the march in Fleet Street, tweeted that it was was “one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen” as supporters reportedly chanted “we want Tommy out”.

People protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice
Luke Dray/Getty Images

He added ethnic minorities were being encouraged by others to go into shops or side streets to keep safe.

During the march, some supporters were pictured holding a St George’s flag in front of police officers outside the Royal Courts of Justice.

Supporters clash with police outside the Old Bailey after the sentencing
Luke Dray/Getty Images

Supporters had also clashed with police outside the Old Bailey immediately after the hearing, with officers ordered to put helmets on.

Barriers had also been pushed over, with beer strewn over the pavement.

Tommy Robinson arrives at court today
PA

Robinson, the 36-year-old English Defence League founder, breached a reporting restriction order when he filmed himself approaching defendants outside Leeds crown court last May.

Judges found he had been “reckless” by not properly checking on a reporting ban before beginning the Facebook Live broadcast, and had urged 250,000 viewers to harass the defendants.

Jurors in the trial had just begun deliberating on their verdicts in the child sexual exploitation trial, on which a restriction had been placed to protect future legal proceedings.

Today at the Old Bailey, Dame Victoria Sharp, sitting with Mr Justice Warby jailed Robinson, saying the incident in Leeds warranted a six month prison sentence.

They also activated a three-month suspended sentence for a previous contempt of court charge at a Canterbury trial.

Police gathered outside the Old Bailey (Luke Dray/Getty Images)
Getty Images

But she said Robinson would serve a 19 week sentence from today to reflect the time he has already served behind bars.

Dame Victoria said sending Robinson to prison was for “punishment and deterrence”, to “demonstrate a determination to uphold the rule of law by deterring conduct of this kind in this case and ensuring future compliance of orders of the court”.

She added that Robinson had displayed “reckless disobedience of an important court order” in his actions, and had told lies in the months that followed.

“He sought to portray himself as a victim of unfairness and oppression”, she added.

During the 90-minute video filmed in Leeds in May last year, Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley Lennon – approached defendants accused of the sexual exploitation of young girls in Huddersfield as they headed in to court.

The judges ruled Robinson had been “reckless” in reporting when he knew there was possibly of a publicity ban still being in place, and he had encouraged “vigilante action” by his supporters against the defendants.

Robinson has was originally sentenced to 13 months in prison for contempt by the Leeds trial judge but was freed on appeal after 69 days when a court found the hearing had been rushed.

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox QC brought fresh proceedings and Robinson was again found in contempt after a two-day hearing last week.

Richard Furlong, for Robinson, told the court the successful appeal had made matters worse, as he has now been found in contempt on three grounds rather than the one he was originally pursued for in Leeds.

He said Robinson will likely be held in solitary confinement in prison due to threats from other prisoners.

Robinson was admonished by the judge at the start of today’s hearing when he turned up ten minutes late because he was busy speaking to a crowd of supporters in the street.

He was accompanied to court by anti-Islam activist Katie Hopkins, spending almost 30 minutes with his fans before finally arriving in court when his barrister was forced to make an apology.

Robinson, from Luton, appealed this week for political asylum in the US but had not received a reply by the time of today’s hearing.

He has sent a message to his supporters via Telegram to demonstrate outside the prison where he is being held on Saturday.

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