The decision by the Attorney General to once more charge Stephen Yaxley Lennon, who styles himself Tommy Robinson, with contempt should have seen The Great Man appear at the High Court tomorrow. However, and here we encounter a significantly sized however, his appearance has now been delayed. And he has taken time out to tell his adoring followers that he is not happy about the situation.
Here’s his schtick. “I was due to be in court this Friday. the 22nd … many of you had made your travel arrangements … booked days off in order to be there. I don’t know a new court date. I’ve been waiting all day. I got first told of suspicions tomorrow [think he means yesterday] that it’s going to be adjourned, but I’m now being told that I won’t be in court this Friday. From what I understand, it’s going to be probably in May”.
Then he began to trowel it on. “That’ll be a year - a year - since the time of the offence [laughs] what offence? What am I talking about? There was no offence [that’s for the court to decide] … 99% going to be in May … if you have made plans, I apologise”. Very big of him. So what has he now told his adoring flock? Well, nothing as yet.
But those enterprising people at the Independent have the correct story: “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”. There was more.
“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 … 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”. So whose fault was it that the case was adjourned?
“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”. His own legal team done it.
But had he come clean and admitted it, that might not have gone down well with all those fans who had already booked their travel tickets and hotel stays - as well as having to book days off work. So he framed his announcement to suggest the Crown is at fault, telling that he “first got told of suspicions”. Except now he’s been rumbled.
He does, though, want all those fans he and his lawyers are messing around to know that he is once again the victim. “The 36-year-old has vowed to contest, ‘along with the support of the British public’ [Ho ho ho], the attorney general's decision, adding: ‘I am innocent. I broke no law.’” The High Court will make the decision on that claim, thanks.
Stephen Lennon never does come clean with his fans. I’ll just leave that one there.
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