Tommy Robinson 'in segregation over fears he will be killed' - as prison conditions revealed in High Court challenge
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, claims his human rights are being breached amid his ongoing segregation at Woodhill prison, in Milton Keynes.
Thursday 20 March 2025 15:04, UK
Tommy Robinson is being kept away from other prisoners over fears he will be killed by another inmate, a court has heard.
The far-right political activist was jailed for 18 months last October after admitting 10 breaches of a High Court injunction, which banned him from repeating false claims about a Syrian refugee.
Robinson, 42, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has applied for a judicial review to challenge his ongoing segregation at Woodhill prison, in Milton Keynes.
He was moved to a "closed" unit after intelligence suggested he "would be killed by a lifer if located on a wing", according to written legal submissions made at London's High Court.
His lawyers argued his segregation breaches his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights and has caused an "evident decline in his mental health".
His barrister Alisdair Williamson KC said the "significant Muslim population" in Woodhill appears to be "causing a difficulty" and argued he should be moved to another jail, where he could associate with other prisoners.
But Tom Cross, representing Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, said it was "not an arguable claim" and detailed the privileges enjoyed by Robinson behind bars.
'More visit time than any other prisoner'
Prison governor Nicola Marfleet said in a statement Robinson gets three hours out of his cell every day - when he can exercise, use the gym or play recreational games such as pool - and another 2 hours and 45 minutes three times a week when he does painting and decorating work.
She said he has "significantly more visit time than any other prisoner", with two hours, four times a week, in a room described as "more informal and comfortable", where he can take in food he's bought from the canteen.
Robinson has 120 people on his visitors list and has had 93 visits, while he can use the phone for four hours a day and has made more than 1,250 social calls.
He has a television, laptop - on which he receives emails "in their hundreds" - a CD player and a DVD player in his cell, the court heard.
Robinson, who is a Category C civil prisoner, also attends a weekly bible session and has daily visits from a member of the chaplaincy team and daily visits from an NHS doctor or nurse.
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In written submissions, the judge was told Robinson was segregated in Belmarsh prison, southeast London, on the first day of his sentence after saying he had conflict with followers of Islam.
He was transferred to Woodhill, where he was identified as being of "high interest" to other prisoners and was put in a closed wing at the back of the segregation unit, which can't be accessed by other prisoners.
'Mark on his head'
Intelligence reports suggested two other prisoners were plotting to attack Robinson to gain "kudos and notoriety", and that he had a "mark on his head" and "would be killed by a lifer if located on a wing", according to the submissions.
A bearded Robinson appeared at the hearing by prison video-link, wearing a grey sweater and blue shorts.
After a break for him to give his barrister instructions, he held up a handwritten note to the camera saying: "They cut my phone off. They were listening when they cut it off".
Mr Williamson said Robinson told him he was only allowed to work for 90 minutes a week cleaning cells, is locked in on his own when he uses the gym, and was refused a request to associate with an old school friend, who is a Muslim and being held in the same prison.
The barrister said Robinson, who he described as a journalist, suffered from ADHD and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) first triggered by his solitary confinement during an earlier prison sentence.
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In complaints made by Robinson read out in court, he said "the solitary confinement has destroyed my mind" and he was "terrified of the long-term consequences".
"I believe this is politically motivated because of my activism and beliefs," he said.
Mr Williamson said that Robinson is worried about his health on his release because "he self-harms by abusing substances in order to cope with the stress caused by being held in solitary confinement".
The judge, Mr Justice Chamberlain said he would hand down his judgment on Friday.