Tommy Robinson has lost a Court of Appeal challenge against his 18-month sentence for the civil offence of contempt of court.

Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was jailed last October for pleading guilty for the offence.

The 42-year-old was jailed after admitting 10 breaches of a High Court order made in 2021, which barred him from repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him for libel.

He was due to be released on July 26, however his legal team argued there was a medical case for that to be brought forward.

Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon was jailed

Alisdair Williamson KC said previously his client was "not currently in mental crisis" but had shown harmful behaviours after his previous releases from jail, raising fears in his family that he may try to kill himself.

The ex-English Defence League leader was successfully sued by Jamal Hijazi, a then-schoolboy who was assaulted at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018.

After a clip of the incident went viral, Robinson made false claims on Facebook, including about Hijazi attacking girls in his school, leading to the libel case. Justice Nicklin ordered Robinson to pay Hijazi £100,000 in damages and his legal costs, as well as making the injunction preventing Robinson from repeating the allegations.

Yaxley-Lennon had made false claims in a viral video that a Syrian teenager was a violent thug. He made the incorrect allegation again in 2024, including during a rally at Trafalgar Square.

Tommy Robinson appearing at Woolwich Crown Court, south London

People gather at Trafalgar Square in central London during a protest organised by Tommy Robinson