Tommy Robinson: Met Police officer admits wrong date put on court order

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A senior Met Police officer who signed a dispersal order allegedly breached by Tommy Robinson in London has admitted in court it may not have been lawful.

The 41-year-old, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, denies failing to comply with a direction to leave an area in Westminster on 26 November 2023.

He was arrested at a march against antisemitism after organisers said he would not be welcome at the event.

Insp Steve Parker-Phipps admitted he wrongly dated the form 24 November.

The officer, whose laptop battery was “dying”, put the order in place at 10:00 GMT on 26 November.

‘Became resistant’

Questioning the inspector, Robinson’s barrister Alisdair Williamson KC said: “This document is not correct is it?

“Can we have any confidence that there was a lawful order in place?”

The officer replied: “No.”

Prosecutor Jonathan Bryan told the court Robinson “became resistant” when ordered to leave the area near the Royal Courts of Justice and was arrested.

“Organisers of the protest had made it clear they didn’t want his presence,” Mr Bryan said. “He wouldn’t leave the area.”

During his arrest, officers sprayed Robinson with synthetic pepper spray and handcuffed him.

Robinson, from Bedfordshire, was “upset” and “angry” about being asked to leave and “held on to metal railings so he could not be escorted”, police said.

The trial continues.