Tommy Robinson case collapses over police paperwork
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been cleared of breaching a dispersal order after a judge ruled the power had not been legally authorised.
The 41-year-old, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was arrested at a march against antisemitism after organisers said he would not be welcome.
A senior Met Police officer who signed the dispersal order had previously told Westminster Magistrates' Court he had used the wrong date.
On Tuesday, District Judge Daniel Sternberg ruled there was no case to answer.
Following the verdict, Mr Robinson announced on X, formerly Twitter, that he was planning to sue the Metropolitan Police.
He posted: "The next time I see you lot in court it’s going to be you having to defend your actions."
The responsibility of policing certain aspects of the protest, which was being held in Westminster, central London, fell to Insp Steve Parker-Phipps.
The court heard the inspector imposed a Section 35 order under the Crime and Policing Act 2014 when he thought a "right-wing group" could potentially be attending.
Insp Parker-Phipps, whose laptop battery was "dying", put the order in place at 10:00 GMT on 26 November, but accidentally dated the form for 24 November.
Mr Robinson's defence lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, told the court there had been a "litany of catastrophic errors" in the Met's handling of the incident.
Questioning the inspector, Mr Williamson said: "This document is not correct is it?
"Can we have any confidence that there was a lawful order in place?"
To which the inspector replied: "No."
'No case to answer'
Giving his ruling, District Judge Daniel Sternberg said: "I am not satisfied there was a legal authorisation.
"There is no case for you to answer."
The hearing was attended by numerous supporters of Mr Robinson who filled the public gallery.
During his arrest, officers sprayed the English Defence League founder with synthetic pepper spray and handcuffed him.
He uploaded a video of himself with partially closed eyes to social media after the incident.
Other footage of him arguing with police officers was also posted on his X account, with Mr Robinson claiming to be present as a journalist at the march.
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