Tommy Robinson's real name and surprising net worth as he's put behind bars

Far-right political activist Tommy Robinson, best known as the co-founder of the English Defense League, has been jailed for 18 months after admitting contempt of court

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been sent behind bars for undermining the law.

The co-founder of the English Defense League (EDL), 41, has today been jailed for 18 months after admitting contempt of court by repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee, in breach of an injunction. Passing sentence, Mr Justice Johnson said it was a "planned, deliberate, direct, flagrant breach of the court's orders."

Robinson, 41, had been barred from repeating false allegations against then-schoolboy Jamal Hijazi, claiming he attacked girls in his school. This week, he admitted to 10 breaches of a High Court order. The judge said: "The defendant has not shown any remorse for his breaches of the order. It would have been surprising had he done so."

He added: "All of his actions so far suggest he regards himself as above the law." As the former British National Party member is locked up, the Mirror takes a look at Robinson's real name and controversial alter ego...

Real name

Although he's best known to fans and critics as Tommy Robinson, this isn't actually his real name - it's more of an alter ego. The far-right activist's real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Born to an Irish mother and an English father, Robinson double-barrelled his surname after his mum married his stepfather, Thomas Lennon.

He took on the persona of Tommy Robinson at the urging of a 'poisonous uncle' while carving out a name for himself as a rightwing campaigner. In a 2013 interview with The Telegraph, Robinson claimed he decided to go by an alias as protection during his early EDL days, as he apparently feared reprisals from Muslims.

His chosen name is a nod to a notorious football hooligan of the same name - who his uncle happened to be exceedingly 'jealous' of. In an eye-opening 2015 profile for The Huffington Post, Robinson confessed: "I used (Tommy's name) due to the influence of a poisonous uncle I had, who were jealous of Tommy his whole life.

"And it was his influence telling me, when I was using different names (they included Mikey and Wayne King) – 'It sounds like w*nking, when you say it. Victoria Derbyshire introduced me, 'Now we have Wayne King', and I was cracking up. He was like, 'Use Tommy Robinson, use Tommy Robinson, it will get all the heat on him'. I shouldn't of done it."

On reflection, Robinson admitted that he should have shown 'more respect' to his namesake, whose criminal antics with hooligan firm Luton Town MIGs led to him writing books about his 25-year football violence career.

Surprising net worth

The convicted criminal and anti-Islam campaigner is believed to have a net worth of between £1million and £2m. Robinson reportedly has an international network of wealthy bankers and receives donations from across the globe, according to The Guardian.

In 2022, he declared himself bankrupt in a high court trial as he was ordered to pay £100,000 in libel damages to a Syrian schoolboy he spread harmful, false rumours about online. However, the campaign group Hope Not Hate claimed Robinson had access to up to £3m through properties, investments, donations and book sales.

Ex-wife's dislike of 'alter ego'

In February 2021, shortly before Robinson was declared bankrupt, he and his now ex-wife Jenna Lennon divorced. The former couple, who married in 2011, had three children together during their 10-year marriage, and Robinson's public persona was reportedly not welcome in the family home.

As detailed in The Huffington Post piece, Jenna loathed the concept of 'Tommy Robinson'. While at their family home, Robinson would leave his alter-ego at the door, keeping a firm division between his political interests and private life. During his periods of incarceration, the children were told that Daddy was 'away for work'.

During the interview, Robinson received a furious text message from Jenna blasting him as 'f****n thick' for uploading snaps of their young daughter's painted nails on social media. Despite having received sickening threats against his family, including vows to burn his house down, Robinson believes his so-called 'campaigning' is ultimately a way of protecting his kids from those he views as 'invading' Europe.