Tommy Robinson sentenced to NINE months imprisonment

The Independent is doing live updates. Friends are present and Ruptly is doing a live feed.

According to the left-leaning and openly hostile Independent Tommy was late into court. I don’t know how they say that – friends recorded him arriving  at the Old Bailey in very good time (left). I have since found out that the court was due to sit half an hour earlier than the usual 10am. I thought I recognised Katie Hopkins. 

Opening comments have been made and the Judges, Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Warby, have risen to discuss.

The Independent reporter says that security officers have entered the dock in readiness for the decision (in other words the reporter is anticipating a custodial sentence)

The crowd outside are in very good voice, chanting and singing. 

The police tried to move them from the bus (hope it doesn’t get a parking ticket again) but people refused to move, so the police backed off. Speeches from supporters continue – I missed that from Gerard Batten. 

I’m looking at Ezra Levant’s twitter feed and agree with him on this. The Judges have had a week to decide sentence; the points made this morning were short and only reiteration. The judges must know what they intend to do by now; they are probably co-ordinating their timing according to police advice. 

Joshua Rozenberg’s tweets are informative

A reliable source says that the police are surrounding the crowd so that they will be kettled ready for the pronouncment of sentence. 

Here is a shot of part of the crowd. Normal English people, mostly older (young people have jobs they can’t get time off from).

While waiting I have been reading Joshua Rozenberg’s tweets about the preliminary discussion before the Judge’s rose. The prosecution want Tommy to pay their costs of persecuting him  – assessed if not agreed – say £25,000.

Tommy’s lawyer makes the point that if in custody he can’t pay a penny as he won’t be working and earning. 

Tommy asked the Judge about what conditions he will be held in if sent to prison – ie solitary confinement. Dame Victoria said this is a matter for the prison authorities, not her responsibility. 

The Judges are back in court. The crowd are urged to let Tommy and the court know they are here rooting for him.

Dame Victoria Sharp refers to finding of contempt of court last week. “Our task today is to propose an appropriate penalty.” “The contempts we have found proved were not ones of deliberate defiance. In the event neither the trial nor the trial that followed were prejudiced. Nevertheless his conduct amounted to a serious contempt.”

At least we have it in open court that the trial WAS NOT prejudiced.

“We are in no doubt a custodial threshold is passed in this case. Nothing less than a custodial penalty would reflect the gravity of the conduct.”

That custodial sentence is six months imprisonment

The crowd is booing and shouting shame on you

It’s worse – she has implimented the suspended sentence consecutively (rare) so in total he has been sentenced to nine months imprisonment. Penalty reduced by 138 days to reflect time already served, so he will serve another 19 weeks, which should be reduced with remission. Plus they are making him pay costs, this could bankrupt him and make his young family homeless. 

The crowd is chanting “We want Tommy out, We want Tommy out! Shame on you, shame on you.”

Police in riot kit are protecting the entrance to the court. 

We want justice – we want justice

The police are now directing the crowd away from the court entrance into the streets beyond. 

Joshua Rozenberg – Speaking after sentencing, the Attorney General said: “Today’s sentencing of Yaxley-Lennon serves to illustrate how seriously the courts will take … contempt. Posting material online that breaches reporting restrictions or risks prejudicing legal proceedings has consequences…”

There are actually more young people in the crowd than I first thought. They are now walking down Ludgate heading for Fleet Street. No violence, no threat of violence, but we do have the right to protest, even if we don’t have a right to free speech anymore. 

The crowd have now reached the gates of the Royal Courts of Justice, home (amongst other centres)  to the High Court and the Court of Appeal. They tried to enter through the public main gates but they were shut in their faces.

They have stopped the traffic in The Strand and speeches are being made. 

Now they are heading for Parliament – which is about 10 minutes walk away. Strand – Trafalagar Square and turn left down Whitehall past Downing Street. 

The police are not letting them far enough down Whitehall to pass Downing Street; they are being taken along Embankment. past the back entrance (which is still pretty attractive) of New Scotland Yard. “Shame on you – shame on you”

Traffic on Westminster Bridge was stopped for a short speech. They have blocked the road between the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Underground station, where Embankment meets Westminster Bridge with a sit in. Until an ambulance came over Westminster Bridge and immediately a big enough path was cleared for it. 
Not violent, but no longer silent. 

Now at Parliament Square and the gates of the MPs entrance are clanging shut. 

I have to leave. I have an engagement I cannot break; if I could I would be in Central london myself. Follow the live feed here.