Tommy Robinson loses 'discrimination' case against police

Tommy Robinson, who's real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has lost a court case against Cambridgeshire Police. Credit: Joe Giddens/PA Wire/PA Images

English Defence League (EDL) founder Tommy Robinson has lost his court case against Cambridgeshire Police after claiming they harassed him by moving him on from a pub.

Mr Robinson, appearing in court under his real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, claimed Cambridgeshire Police targeted him because of his beliefs.

He was in a Cambridge pub after he took his children to see Luton Town play away against Cambridge United in August 2016.

Sergeant Paul Street, who moved Mr Yaxley-Lennon on, told Peterborough County Court that he did not know who Mr Yaxley-Lennon was at the time.

He said he moved Mr Yaxley-Lennon on due to intelligence that he was a football supporter likely to cause trouble, and was with a group of other "risk" supporters.

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Giving her judgment following a four-day hearing, Judge Karen Walden-Smith said: "Mr Lennon isn't as well-known as he and his supporters may think."

Judge Walden-Smith ruled that all of his claims, including several under theHuman Rights Act, had failed.

The judge ordered that Mr Yaxley-Lennon pay £20,000 towards the defendant's costs.

Mr Yaxley-Lennon said outside court that he would appeal against the judgment.

Tommy Robinson was ordered pay £20,000 costs to Cambridgeshire Police for taking them to court. Credit: Joe Giddens/PA Wire/PA Images

Sgt Street earlier told the court that he did not know who Mr Yaxley-Lennon was and thought the name referred to an "80s football hooligan".

Mr Yaxley-Lennon said he was with his three children, aged between five and nine at the time, on a family day out.

Alison Gurden, representing the 36-year-old, said Sgt Street "didn't take intoaccount factors that he should have done".

She said Mr Yaxley-Lennon had been going in and out of the pub to see hischildren outside.

"It wasn't necessary (to move him on) as there was... nothing to indicate MrLennon was likely to become involved in disorder," she said.

"He's there with his children and he's certainly not dressed for a fight, he'sin his flip-flops."

She said Mr Yaxley-Lennon believed he was "discriminated against on thegrounds of being Tommy Robinson and his beliefs".