Oh Tommy Tommy - A Third Contempt

Time and tide wait for no man, and nor does the legal process, as was discovered yesterday by Stephen Yaxley Lennon, who styles himself Tommy Robinson. Lennon was due to appear at the High Court to be “examined” on the subject of his finances, after he lost a libel action brought against him by Jamal Hijazi, a Syrian refugee about whom Lennon had made a series of highly imaginative - and defamatory - claims.

“Tommy Robinson is due to appear at the High Court to be questioned about his finances after he lost a libel case brought against him by a Syrian teenager” told PA Media. James Doleman noted soon afterwards that there was a problem. “Court rises as the judge, Master Dagnall enters the court. Mr Yaxley-Lennon is not present”. There was more.

“Judge says it appears that Mr. Lennon was aware of today's hearing … Counsel says the aim of today's hearing was for him to be examined, under oath, about his financial circumstances. Owing £100k in libel damages plus costs he has declared himself bankrupt … The barrister continues, ‘it is clear he has chosen not to attend’”.

But Lennon had made an application to the court. “Court now discussing a legal application made by Mr. Lennon, which he had asked to be heard today … Judge says he will dismiss this application as there is nobody here to present it”. And then … “Judge says he will now ‘consider the consequences’ of Mr. Lennon's non-attendance”.

“The judge notes that there was a ‘penal order’ issued that required Mr Lennon to attend today, and informing him if he did not he could face a fine or imprisonment … dismisses Mr Lennon's motion to end the case because of his bankruptcy … says he will refer Mr Lennon to a High Court judge for possible contempt of court proceedings … he will order costs against Mr. Lennon for today's hearing as he had ‘chosen not to attend’”.

Worse, as Lennon has now been discharged from bankruptcy, he will be liable for those costs. The Judge could not issue a warrant, which is partly why he referred the matter to a High Court Judge - who can issue a warrant for Lennon’s arrest. The High Court Judge will most likely consider the matter next week, after which Lennon may get nicked.

Worse still is that Lennon’s apparent attempt to put his assets beyond the reach of the courts may prove to be a campaign that develops not necessarily to his advantage. Hope Not Hate may not always turn up to the anti-extremism party, but they have at least focused on Lennon’s bankruptcy claims, and last month submitted their findings.

“A few moments ago we handed over a 200-page dossier to the Insolvency Practitioner investigating Stephen Lennon’s (aka Tommy Robinson) bankruptcy. In it, we set out the evidence that we believe shows his claim of bankruptcy is a fraud, designed simply to avoid paying Jamal Hijazi the damages and legal fees that were awarded against him last year … In a video posted online in March 2020, Lennon crowed ‘They’re not getting paid ok. I don’t own an asset. I’m asset … I’m a straw man’”. Or maybe not.

HnH have helpfully added “Unfortunately for Lennon, in his own book, he explained that he placed assets in his wife’s name. Among these assets in his wife’s name were six of the seven houses he owned at the time and the Tanning salon that was again in his wife’s name but he made clear in his book that he ran”. Now he faces jail, too. Sad, really.

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