Anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson 'begs Trump' to grant him asylum as he faces jail

Far-right anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson has "begged" US President Donald Trump to grant him asylum as he faces being jailed in the UK for contempt of court.

Two senior judges on Friday found the British far-right activist had acted in contempt when broadcasting footage of defendants outside Leeds Crown Court in northern England in May 2018.

"I beg Donald Trump, I beg the American government, to look at my case. I need evacuation from this country because dark forces are at work," Robinson said in an interview with far-right American conspiracy site InfoWars on Monday.

"I feel like I'm two days away from being sentenced to death in the UK," he added.

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

He live-streamed the footage while the jury in the second of a series of linked grooming trials was considering its verdict.

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

A hearing was provisionally set for Thursday to determine Robinson's punishment.

Contempt of court carries a maximum sentence of two years.

Robinson claimed he would be killed in jail as British prisons are controlled by "jihadi gangs".

The far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, founded the English Defence League (EDL) and has prior convictions for drugs and assault.

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