UK far-right activist cleared of refusing to leave anti-Semitism march

British far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson was on Tuesday cleared of failing to comply with a dispersal order excluding him from a march against anti-Semitism.

Robinson, 41, was handcuffed and sprayed with synthetic pepper spray in London on November 26 after organisers said he was not welcome at the event.

But a judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court told him there was no case to answer, as the police had not legally authorised the order, which is designed to prevent anti-social behaviour.

The police officer who signed the order admitted in court that he used the wrong date on the paperwork.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, claimed to have been attending the march as a journalist and refused to leave, leading to his arrest.

On November 11, he had been seen among crowds of counter-protesters who clashed with police as pro-Palestinian demonstrators called for a ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas.

Robinson is a founder and former leader of the far-right English Defence League.

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