What has Tommy Robinson been in prison for?

Short answer: Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) has served prison time for using a false passport (2012), mortgage fraud (2014), and contempt of court linked to reporting restrictions and injunction breaches (2019 and 2024). Below is a careful, sourced walkthrough of each custodial sentence, plus context where reports sometimes get muddled.

Updated • UK perspective

TL;DR

Robinson has been jailed four times:

  • 2012 (10 months): Used another person’s passport to enter the US. Source.
  • 2014 (18 months): Mortgage fraud at St Albans Crown Court; fraud totalled c. £160,000. Sky News, ITV.
  • 2019 (9 months): Contempt of court after a retrial at the Old Bailey relating to filming outside Leeds Crown Court in 2018 (served about 9–10 weeks). Guardian, 5RB.
  • 2024 (18 months, later reduced): Contempt of court for breaching a High Court injunction in a libel case (Jamal Hijazi). Sentence later reduced by four months in 2025 following an application to purge contempt. AP, Reuters, The Times.

Why people get confused about his prison history

Bits of his story have been re-reported so many times that details blur together—especially around contempt of court. In 2018 he was given a 13-month term for contempt at Leeds (10 months) plus activation of a 3-month suspended term from an earlier Canterbury contempt. The Court of Appeal later quashed the Leeds decision for procedural flaws and ordered a rehearing; he was bailed and, after fresh proceedings in 2019, received a nine-month sentence. That’s why you’ll see “13 months” and “9 months” in different posts. The 2019 sentence is the one that stood. (Sources: Court reporting and appellate coverage.) Appeal coverage, Old Bailey sentencing note.

2012 — Jailed for using a false passport (10 months)

In January 2013 (offence in 2012), Robinson was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment for using another person’s passport to enter the United States. He’d travelled on a friend’s passport to get past an entry ban. The court treated it as a serious breach of border rules—pretty standard for UK courts, politics aside. Coverage.

What the court considered

  • Deliberate deception to bypass immigration control.
  • Potential security risk and precedent concerns.

Outcome

He served a portion in custody, with automatic release part-way through (as is normal on short determinate sentences).

2014 — Jailed for mortgage fraud (18 months)

In January 2014, at St Albans Crown Court, Robinson pleaded guilty to two counts of mortgage fraud and was sentenced to 18 months. Reports state the fraudulent activity ran to roughly £160,000 over several months. The judge cast him as an organiser or “fixer”. Sky News; ITV.

Why mortgage fraud draws jail time

Even without violence, judges tend to jail for organised financial deception—especially when there’s planning, false documents and multiple applications. It’s treated as harm to lenders and the integrity of the system.

Outcome

He served a fraction in custody before release on licence, as is typical.

2018 → 2019 — Contempt of court: what actually happened

On 25 May 2018, Robinson live-streamed outside Leeds Crown Court during a grooming-gang trial subject to strict reporting restrictions. He was swiftly dealt with for contempt (10 months) and the earlier suspended 3-month term from Canterbury was activated—headlines called it a “13-month sentence”. The Court of Appeal later found the process at Leeds flawed and ordered a rehearing. He was bailed; after due process, a retrial at the Old Bailey in July 2019 led to a nine-month sentence. Guardian; 5RB case note; background: IRIS Merlin.

What “contempt” means here

Contempt can include publishing material that risks prejudicing a live trial. Reporting restrictions exist to protect jury fairness; breaking them can derail proceedings and force retrials—hence why courts react fast.

Outcome

He served around 9–10 weeks of the nine-month term (common with release conditions and time served).

2024 — Jailed for contempt of court (injunction breaches)

In October 2024 Robinson was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for contempt of court after repeatedly breaching a High Court injunction in the libel case brought by Jamal Hijazi, a Syrian refugee who had previously won a £100,000 judgment against him. The court said the breaches were deliberate and designed for maximum reach. AP; Reuters; Guardian.

Sentence later reduced

In mid-2025, the High Court reduced the term by four months after he applied to purge contempt and said he would comply with the injunction; reports indicated release followed shortly after court confirmation. The Times.

Why injunction breaches matter

When a court orders someone not to publish certain claims and they do so anyway, contempt protects the authority of the court and the successful libel claimant. It’s about compliance, not politics.

Earlier violent offences (most not leading to long custody)

Robinson has a history of violent and public-order offences dating back years. These include a 2005 conviction for assaulting an off-duty police officer (reports say he received a custodial term then), and a 2011 assault conviction. While they shape his overall record, the main recent prison terms most readers ask about are the 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2024 cases above. For a concise round-up see The Week’s timeline (recent) and individual court reports linked throughout.

Quick timeline (custodial sentences)

  • Jan 2013 (offence 2012): 10 months — false passport to enter the US. Guardian.
  • Jan 2014: 18 months — mortgage fraud, St Albans Crown Court. Sky, ITV.
  • Jul 2019: 9 months — contempt of court after Old Bailey retrial. Guardian, 5RB.
  • Oct 2024: 18 months (later reduced by 4) — contempt for injunction breaches in Hijazi libel case. AP, Reuters, Times.

If you’re supporting someone who’s inside (UK basics)

Different person, same admin. If you’re helping a friend or relative in custody in England & Wales, a few quick tips save headaches:

  • Find their prison via official channels and check visiting rules—ID, timeslots, and what you can bring change per site.
  • Set up phone credit and email services early so you’re not relying on letters in urgent moments.
  • Banking & money: send funds using the approved method for that establishment; don’t risk unapproved transfers.
  • Legal help: keep a written log of dates, calls and names; it shortens conversations with solicitors and prison staff.

Our guides cover first visits, sending money, property rules, and more. If something here needs correcting, email [email protected] and we’ll update with a note.

Primary sources and further reading

FAQs

So, what exactly has he been in prison for?

False passport use (2012), mortgage fraud (2014), and contempt of court (2019 and 2024—injunction breaches in a libel case). Each is documented by mainstream outlets and court reports linked above.

Was the 2018 “13 months” term overturned?

The appeal court quashed the Leeds decision for procedural errors and ordered a rehearing. After the retrial at the Old Bailey in 2019 he received a nine-month sentence and served part of it.

What changed with the 2024 contempt sentence?

He was jailed for 18 months for breaching an injunction in the Jamal Hijazi libel case. In 2025 the High Court reduced the term by four months after he applied to purge his contempt and undertook to comply.

Does politics affect sentencing in contempt cases?

Contempt is about upholding court orders and protecting fair trials. Judges sentence on the conduct (risk to justice; defiance of orders), not a person’s political views.

Where can I verify current status?

Check reputable news outlets linked above for the latest, and official listings where available. For general prisoner location queries in England & Wales, you can use official government services; for federal US inmates use the BOP locator.

Corrections? Email [email protected] and we’ll update with a note.

© HMPrison.co.uk — London, United Kingdom

Tommy Robinson – custodial sentences timeline (UK explainer)