A “lifer” in the prison holding Tommy Robinson planned to kill the far-right activist while two other prisoners plotted to attack him to gain “kudos and notoriety”, the high court has been told.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is seeking to bring a legal challenge against his segregation from other prisoners, which he claims is having an impact on his mental health.
However, the physical risk from other prisoners was cited in written submissions by lawyers for the secretary of state for justice to back up the decision to locate him in a segregation unit at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes.
Robinson is serving an 18-month sentence for contempt of court for repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee, in breach of an injunction. He is due to be released on 25 July.
HMP Woodhill received several intelligence reports from November last year showing a “non-speculative risk to him including the plot by two prisoners who wanted to assault him to gain kudos and notoriety”, the court heard.
The intelligence also stated Robinson had “a mark on his head” and would be killed by a lifer (someone serving a life sentence) if moved on to a wing.
He was transferred to the prison in November from HMP Belmarsh, where he was said to have stated on his first day that “he had a conflict with the followers of Islam”.
The transfer from Belmarsh also took place after death threats and racist abuse were directed on social media and in correspondence to the governor, who is a black woman, according to written submissions.
Robinson, bearded and dressed in a grey sweatshirt and shorts, joined the hearing via a remote link. His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, said that in February Robinson asked to be moved to an open prison, stating: “The solitary confinement is destroying my mind.”
“I am terrified of the long-term consequences of the continued solitary confinement,” Robinson added.
The court was told Robinson had previously had a substance abuse problem, which his barrister said had been triggered by PTSD from being in prison before, and that he was likely to struggle with this again due to his current conditions.
The Ministry of Justice is opposing the bid, with its lawyers stating it was “not an arguable claim”. Tom Cross, for the MoJ, said in a written submission: “The significant risks both to the claimant’s own safety and to the good order or discipline of the prison required him to remain removed from association with other prisoners, subject to review.”
Cross added that Robinson’s segregation was “more permissive” than usual, including having access to a laptop, being able to send and receive emails “in their hundreds”, and having access to gym facilities for three hours a day.
Mr Justice Chamberlain said he aimed to give a decision in writing on Friday.
Source: theguardian.com
