Tommy Robinson due to be released from prison in days after sentence reduced

Tommy Robinson is due to be released from prison in days after his sentence for the civil offence of contempt of court was reduced by four months at the High Court.

The far-right political activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was jailed for 18 months in October last year after admitting breaching a 2021 High Court order banning him from repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him for libel. The sentence was made up of a 14-month "punitive" element and a four-month "coercive" element, with sentencing judge Mr Justice Johnson telling Robinson he could have the latter taken off his sentence if he were to "purge" his contempt by taking steps to comply with the injunction.

Robinson applied to purge his contempt at a hearing on Tuesday, with his lawyers telling the court he had shown "commitment" to comply with the order. Lawyers for the Solicitor General agreed Robinson had taken steps to adhere to the injunction.

Read more:Second man charged over fires at properties linked to StarmerEU members want UK access to rearmament fund limitedPop star says Diddy threatened to kill her In a ruling, Mr Justice Johnson said while there was an "absence of contrition or remorse" from Robinson, he had shown a "change in attitude" since he was sentenced. He said: "He [Robinson] has given an assurance that he will comply with the injunction in the future, that he has no intention of breaching it again, and that he is aware of the consequences of what would happen if he breached the injunction again." He continued: "I consider it appropriate to grant the application." He added: "The practical effect, subject to confirmation by the prison authorities, is that the defendant will be released once he has completed the punitive element, which I understand will be within the next week." Robinson was originally due to be released on 26 July.

After he was jailed, Robinson lost a bid to bring a legal challenge against the Ministry of Justice over his segregation from other prisoners in March. He then lost a legal challenge to his sentence at the Court of Appeal in April, but three senior judges said he could "still reduce the period he has to spend in custody by taking the steps identified" by Mr Justice Johnson..