Hundreds of supporters of British far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson brought a London street to a close on Thursday protesting his contempt of court case, which was later adjourned. Around 50 counter-demonstrators chanted "Nazi scum, off our streets", as Robinson, who founded and later left the anti-Islam English Defence League (EDL), arrived at court for a hearing.
He is facing a retrial after an appeals judge last month quashed a contempt of court conviction - for a breach of reporting restrictions around a trial - and ordered his release from prison. Nicholas Hilliard, the judge now assigned to the case, on Thursday asked Robinson's legal team to send more detailed arguments before deciding if, and when, to hold another hearing.
Robinson, who counts former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon as a supporter, won the challenge in August against an initial 13-month prison sentence. He had been jailed for contempt of court and breaching a previous suspended sentence, having used social media to livestream events outside a court in Leeds, northern England. He told reporters on Thursday that he was a victim of "political persecution".