23 April 2024 , 14:03
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Tommy Robinson has been cleared of breaching a dispersal order after a policeman put the wrong date on the paperwork when his laptop was dying.
The controversial far-right figure, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, was arrested at a march against antisemitism near the Royal Courts of Justice in London, in November, after organisers said he would not be welcome at the event. Inspector Steve Parker-Phipps, responsible for policing certain aspects of the protest, imposed a Section 35 order under the Crime and Policing Act 2014 when he thought a “right-wing group” could potentially be attending.
A trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard Inspector Parker-Phipps laptop battery was “dying” as he put the order in place at 10am on November 26. He accidentally dated the form for November 24. A judge today ruled that this error meant dispersal order had not been legally authorised by police.
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?” The senior officer replied: “No.”
Robinson was cleared due to an error in the paperwork (PA)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.”
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The trial was attended by numerous supporters of 41-year-old Mr Robinson who filled the public gallery. During his arrest, officers sprayed Mr Robinson 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.