This story of a Tommy Robinson ‘door knocking’ makes for terrifying and very necessary reading
Journalist Mike Stuchbery writes about far-right issues has been spending a lot of time documenting how Steven Yaxley-Lennon (AKA Tommy Robinson) turns up on the doorstep of people who criticise him.
So guess who turned up on his doorstep last night? Of course he did. Mike’s thread about it went viral because it’s grim but necessary – and frankly terrifying – reading.
https://twitter.com/MikeStuchbery_/status/1102742877342482433
‘Tommy’ has done this, as yesterday, a letter was delivered to his home, informing him that he’s being sued for defamation on behalf of Jamal, the Syrian refugee bullied in a viral video last year.
Since I’m close, I’m a critic and I knew about it, he decided to target me. /2 pic.twitter.com/Y67txrMmFf
— Mike Stuchbery💀🍷 (@MikeStuchbery_) March 5, 2019
My involvement in the weekend’s events was this: I helped crowdfund the defamation action and I alerted people that it was happening on social media – I freely admit that.
On Sunday, however, I was at home in Luton. /3 pic.twitter.com/hqWcDOvO4m
— Mike Stuchbery💀🍷 (@MikeStuchbery_) March 5, 2019
I was asleep when ‘Tommy’ turned up around 10.15pm tonight – I work for a living. The first I knew of it was when a pounding began on the door and windows of my home.
There must have been more than just ‘Tommy’, as multiple doors and windows were being smacked – hard. /4
— Mike Stuchbery💀🍷 (@MikeStuchbery_) March 5, 2019
At the same time, messages came flooding in via social media. Despite being banned by Facebook, he was using a mate’s account to stream – and the abuse came flooding in. /5 pic.twitter.com/doyzinSewO
— Mike Stuchbery💀🍷 (@MikeStuchbery_) March 5, 2019
‘Tommy’ started with the ‘just want a chat’ spiel, but quickly began ranting and raving when he didn’t get a response.
Thanks to a quick transcription, I know he started accusing me of being a paedophile – the video I’ll attach tomorrow will bear this out. /6
— Mike Stuchbery💀🍷 (@MikeStuchbery_) March 5, 2019
I called the police – who wouldn’t? They came and eventually talked ‘Tommy’ into leaving, but not before he gave my full address, threatened to come back tomorrow, in addition to making a documentary ‘exposing me’. /7
— Mike Stuchbery💀🍷 (@MikeStuchbery_) March 5, 2019
Now, we’re both wide awake here. I dare say we won’t be getting to sleep for a few hours yet. I’ve talked to both police and lawyers, and I’ll be doing a whole lot more of that tomorrow. /8
— Mike Stuchbery💀🍷 (@MikeStuchbery_) March 5, 2019
A couple of things: First, let me assure you, I take my reputation very, very seriously. For ‘Tommy’ to call me a paedophile is defamatory in the extreme. We’ve got it on video. See you in court, ‘Tommy’. /9
— Mike Stuchbery💀🍷 (@MikeStuchbery_) March 5, 2019
Second, my work on the Far Right has led to my working as a journalist – at least, far more than ‘Tommy’ will ever be. If I’ve defamed him, he has recourse. He doesn’t have the right to terrorise a street late at night. I’m more resolved than ever to stop this happening. /10 pic.twitter.com/gm9XyJ1ara
— Mike Stuchbery💀🍷 (@MikeStuchbery_) March 5, 2019
Third, I will be working with any politician who will listen, to ensure that ‘Tommy’ and anyone else using social media in this way to harass will be stopped from doing so. The fool has just made me that more determined. @tom_watson – one for you?
/11
— Mike Stuchbery💀🍷 (@MikeStuchbery_) March 5, 2019
Thanks to those who have reached out. We’re looked after, we’re safe, we’ve got plans in place. Tomorrow, another chapter begins. He thought I was vocal before… /FIN
— Mike Stuchbery💀🍷 (@MikeStuchbery_) March 5, 2019
PS. Won’t post video until we talk to a lawyer. Sure you can find it if you look.
— Mike Stuchbery💀🍷 (@MikeStuchbery_) March 5, 2019
PPS. He came back, at 5.10am. We called the police again.
— Mike Stuchbery💀🍷 (@MikeStuchbery_) March 5, 2019
You can read more about the incident on the Guardian here. And here are a few of the things people posted in response.
Read right to the bottom of this thread Very scary https://t.co/t5AMRg5ggu
— Rory Cellan-Jones (@ruskin147) March 5, 2019
Read this thread to the end. What sort of society are we becoming? https://t.co/nAMrt60vxj
— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) March 5, 2019
For those who argue Tommy Robinson/Stephen Yaxley-Lennon is a “free speech campaigner”, let alone a “journalist”, then do read this brief and disturbing thread. These are the actions of someone trying to shut down free speech through open intimidation. https://t.co/KDPTNnXsaQ
— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) March 5, 2019
