TOMMY Robinson has slammed the mainstream media accusing journalists of “mocking” his mental health battle.
Robinson, 39 revealed in the High Court today that he did not go to court to be questioned about his finances because of mental health issues caused by being harassed.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had been expected at a hearing in March over an unpaid legal bill after he lost a libel case brought against him by a Syrian teenager last year.
He told Politicalite that the media had “mocked” his Mental Health issues.
Robinson was due to return to court to answer questions about his finances on March 22, but the 39-year-old failed to attend due to health issues.
The case was referred to a High Court judge who ordered the ex-English Defence League founder to go to court on Friday for a preliminary hearing about whether he had committed a contempt of court.
As he entered the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Friday morning, Robinson described the hearing as “boring crap”.
Oliver McEntee, representing Robinson, told the High Court the 39-year-old was facing mental health issues and could provide medical evidence.
He said: “My instructions are he has been suffering and was at the relevant time suffering from a number of mental health issues that he says are attributable to harassment by a number of individuals.”
“He is, for better or worse, somewhat of a notorious figure.”
The barrister later said: “Mr Yaxley-Lennon says, to put it bluntly, that he simply was not in a fit state of mind to attend court due to the culmination of the mental health issues and the harassment he has faced.”
Mr Justice Nicklin said Robinson would need to attend a full hearing in August to decide whether he had committed a contempt of court, where he could provide evidence about his medical issues.
Ordering Robinson to return, the judge said: “Were he to fail to attend again, that would be an aggravating feature if the court ultimately found he did not have a lawful excuse for failing to attend on 22 March.”
More follows.
