TOMMY Robinson will be sentenced today for contempt of court over a video he broadcast on social media which featured defendants in a criminal trial.

The former English Defence League (EDL) founder, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was found to have committed contempt of court following a two-day hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday.

Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Warby found Robinson was in contempt in three respects when he filmed men accused of the sexual exploitation of young girls and live-streamed the footage on Facebook, in breach of a reporting ban, outside Leeds Crown Court in May 2018.

Giving reasons for the decision on Tuesday, Dame Victoria said Robinson encouraged "vigilante action" in the video, which lasted an hour-and-a-half and was viewed online 250,000 times on the morning of the broadcast.

The judge said the words he used in the video would have been understood by viewers as "an incitement" to harass the defendants and "gave rise to a real risk the course of justice would be seriously impeded".

Throughout the Old Bailey hearing, Robinson denied any wrongdoing, saying he did not believe he was breaching reporting restrictions and only referred to information that was already in the public domain.

But Dame Victoria and Mr Justice Warby found he was in contempt by breaching the reporting restriction imposed on the trial, by live-streaming the video from outside the public entrance to the court and by "aggressively confronting and filming" some of the defendants.

A number of Robinson's supporters who gathered outside the court on Thursday and Friday reacted angrily after the result was announced.

Robinson, 36, from Luton, Bedfordshire, broadcast the footage while the jury in the second of a series of linked grooming trials was considering its verdict.

The video was eventually viewed 3.4 million times after being shared following his arrest.

A reporting restriction was in place which postponed the publication of any details of the case until the end of all the trials involving 29 people, in a bid to ensure all defendants received a fair trial.

Robinson was jailed for 13 months after being found in contempt of court on the day of the broadcast.

He served two months in jail before being freed after the original finding of contempt was overturned by the Court of Appeal in August 2018.

But the case was then referred back to the Attorney General, who announced in March that it was in the public interest to bring fresh proceedings against Robinson.

Dame Victoria and Mr Justice Warby gave permission for the Attorney General to bring a new case against Robinson at a hearing in May.

Anyone found in contempt of court can be jailed for up to two years, receive an unlimited fine, or both.

In an appearance on the far-right conspiracy theory website InfoWars on Monday, Robinson asked US President Donald Trump to grant him asylum in America, claiming he faced being killed in prison if he was jailed on Thursday.

Robinson arrived in court today with his legal team, wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans.

He had changed out of the T-shirt he wore as he entered the building, which was emblazoned with the words "convicted of journalism", and also sporting a badge reading "I support soldiers A-Z".

At the start of the hearing, Robinson's barrister Richard Furlong apologised on his client's behalf for his late arrival.

He told Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Warby that Robinson had arrived at a nearby train station 20 minutes before the hearing was due to begin, but was delayed by "a number of people outside who are here to support him".

Dame Victoria replied: "Well, it's not a very good start, is it?"

Aidan Eardley, representing the Attorney General, told the court about previous punishments handed out in cases of contempt.

He said that cases of "strict liability" contempt have previously been dealt with by way of a fine, rather than a jail term, but he said these were "typically" cases involving media organisations rather than individuals.

In mitigation, Mr Furlong asked the court to consider any "actual harm caused" by Robinson's actions.

He said: "Notwithstanding the seriousness of what has been found to be proven against him, in terms of actual harm to the trial of the criminal defendants in Leeds there is no suggestion that the criminal defendants in Leeds did not have a fair trial, notwithstanding his conduct outside the court".

Mr Furlong asked the court to consider the delay in bringing the current proceedings, saying: "There has been an additional 14 months since the incident on May 25 (2018)."

He added: "There have been no further instances of contempt."

Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Warby have retired to consider the sentence they will pass on Robinson for contempt of court.

Outside court, Robinson's supporters have gathered at a double-decker bus blocking the street at the the Ludgate Hill end. A stage has been erected and speakers are addressing the crowd.

Former Ukip leader Gerard Batten has taken to the stage to address the crowd.