The ex-wife of bankrupt far-right activist Tommy Robinson has arrange a agency in an obvious bid to assist elevate funds for her former husband, The Impartial understands.
Robinson’s account on encrypted messenger service Telegram has posted hyperlinks in current weeks to a “Sq. FT” donations web site which purports to help “freelance impartial journalists”. Robinson, actual title Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has appealed to followers for “safety prices” through the web site for what he has billed an “investigation” into “grooming gangs”.
He additionally promoted the Sq. FT funding web page on his account on GETTR, a self-styled “free speech” social media platform based by a former Donald Trump aide, the place he has a following of greater than 160,000.
A Firms Home submitting unearthed by The Impartial exhibits that Robinson’s ex-wife, Jenna Lennon, is the only real director of Sq. FT restricted, which seems to be linked to the funding web site. The Sq. FT web site and firm had been each arrange in August final yr. There is no such thing as a proof of any wrongdoing by Ms Lennon or Sq. FT. Robinson is entitled to obtain funds while bankrupt however they have to be declared.
The English Defence League founder – a convicted fraudster who has tried to reinvent himself lately as a journalist – is estimated to owe collectors £2m, a lot of which pertains to a libel case he misplaced final yr after falsely accusing a Syrian refugee schoolboy of attacking a lady. Anti-racism marketing campaign group Hope Not Hate (HNH) believes Robinson has entry to property price as much as an estimated £3m. Robinson declared himself bankrupt in March, the month after Robinson and Ms Lennon divorced, based on HNH.
People who’re bankrupt are restricted from being a director of a restricted firm – or, based on Mark Sands, chair of the private insolvency committee at insolvency and restructuring commerce physique R3, appearing as a “shadow director”, which means they perform the identical position in all however title. Failing foul of the phrases of chapter on this method can be a prosecutable offence, he mentioned.
The Impartial has not seen any proof to counsel Robinson is appearing as a shadow director of Sq. FT, or has did not declare earnings.
On 22 December, Robinson posted a video on his Telegram channel – the place he has greater than 155,000 subscribers – during which he mentioned he was having dinner at his ex-wife’s home, joking that she was “fortunate” he had already divorced her as she had run out of ketchup. Within the clip, he inspired followers to obtain GETTR and comply with him. An accompanying put up included a hyperlink to the Sq. FT web page, including: “If you wish to assist me assist a grooming sufferer so she will be able to transfer right into a secure space then please CLICK HERE to donate!!!”
The Sq. FT web site web page makes no point out of Robinson, however one web page invitations browsers to donate between £5 and £100. Beneath the heading “Relocating a Telford grooming sufferer”, it states: “Empowering us empowers you!!! Please think about contributing in order that we are able to proceed to supply for these on a mission to construct a greater world.”
The homepage for Sq. FT, which additionally omits any reference to Robinson, says beneath an image exhibiting silhouettes of individuals set towards a metropolis skyline: “Change into the easiest freelancer you may be – break the chains of company journalism.”
Beneath, it reads: “At Sq. FT we offer options for impartial and freelance journalists. We are going to work with you to assist with crowdfunding, campaigns, collaboration and networking to achieve your aim. As an impartial freelance journalist you’ll be able to put your viewers ready of energy, the place you cowl the subjects they’re excited by, subjects that may get left behind by mainstream media on account of commercial/sponsorship conflicts and many others and many others.
“Journalists who crowdfund strongly imagine within the journalistic norm of autonomy, so by elevating your profile and gaining the belief and help of those that wish to watch or learn tales which might be prevented by the mainstream, then Sq. FT is the most effective place to begin your journey of independence and free pondering. Break the shackles of ‘company journalism’ and supply one thing recent, authentic and canopy tales that stuffy company bosses are inclined to keep away from. Welcome to the model new world of autonomous journalism.”
Firms Home data present Sq. FT Ltd was integrated in August, with Ms Lennon listed as its solely director. The agency’s enterprise exercise is described as “Different info service actions not elsewhere categorized”. It’s not recognized how a lot, if any, cash has been donated through the Sq. FT web site and particulars for who registered the web site haven’t been made public.
In one other Telegram put up on 3 January Robinson’s account linked to a different web page on the Sq. FT web site, writing: “Please assist us with safety. Donate by CLICKING HERE!!!! I would like your assist. My workforce goes to want to cowl extra safety prices after this assault on my automotive, the survivors home and an area lady.
“There is no such thing as a doubt in my thoughts members of Telford’s grooming gangs are scared, they’re like a wounded animal, they’re ready to lash out at any time and do ANYTHING to silence and intimidate these of us who’re shining a lightweight on the RAPE JIHAD that’s been occurring on this city for forty years.”
The hyperlink takes customers to a web page on Sq. FT inviting donations underneath the heading: “Safety prices for investigating Telford grooming gang.”
On 10 January a hyperlink to the web site was once more posted from Robinson’s Telegram account, with the message: “Don’t overlook to help our work, we cant do that with out you.”
Robinson was on account of unveil a video on Saturday afternoon that includes what he claims to be an investigation into grooming gang in Telford, Shropshire, entitled “Rape of Britain”. There may be additionally set to be a march within the city.
As just lately as this month, Robinson’s GETTR profile included a hyperlink to the Sq. FT funding web page – together with the message urging folks to help “my investigation of Telford grooming gangs” – however the hyperlink has since been eliminated.
Earlier this month, insolvency practitioners Nigel Heath Sinclair and Christine Bartlett of Richard Lengthy & Co had been appointed joint trustees over the chapter property of Robinson. They’re investigating property and potential property held by Robinson, who is because of be discharged from chapter in March. In an announcement, Richard Lengthy & Co mentioned: “The trustees are constrained by the Knowledge Safety Act and their skilled obligations and as such are unable to provide any info relating to collectors to any third occasion and at the moment can not touch upon their investigations, that are at an early stage. The investigations is not going to conclude following the bankrupt’s computerized discharge which is presently scheduled for two March 2022.”
Being bankrupt doesn’t cease a person incomes a dwelling, Mr Sands mentioned, however they must disclose all earnings to a trustee. “[The bankrupt individual] is then entitled to maintain enough of that earnings for the affordable home wants of him and his household,” he mentioned. “A trustee is then entitled to ask to obtain any earnings in extra of these wants.
“If the trustee and the bankrupt can not agree the extent of these wants the Chapter Courtroom may be requested to find out that determine.
“As soon as a bankrupt is discharged, usually after 12 months, he’s entitled to maintain all his earnings. Nevertheless, if he’s proven to have surplus earnings earlier than discharge, and the trustee asks him at hand over that surplus earnings, or the Chapter Courtroom orders him to take action, the trustee can then ask the bankrupt to pay over his surplus earnings for 3 years from the purpose they agree there’s a surplus. Subsequently, a bankrupt has an incentive to maintain his earnings beneath his wants till the yr is up and he’s discharged from chapter and the trustee will wish to make sure that there isn’t any hidden earnings.”
He added: “If an individual campaigning wished to ask for donations, donations for them to stay off of, the donations must be declared to the trustee within the chapter as a result of that, in impact, is earnings in my opinion. Nevertheless, if the donations are for them to print leaflets and get on a prepare to go and seem and use that cash for campaigning then truly, that’s not their cash. That’s one thing that chapter wouldn’t limit you from doing.”
Robinson didn’t reply to a request for remark earlier than publication. Robinson, who was jailed for 18 months in 2014 for mortgage fraud, misplaced a libel case final yr after falsely accusing a Syrian refugee schoolboy of attacking a lady and was ordered by a decide to pay £100,000. As well as, he owes an estimated £1.5m in authorized prices for {the teenager}’s attorneys.
Different collectors embody HMRC, a former enterprise companion and Barrow-in-Furness borough council, based on HNH. The marketing campaign group is fundraising to pay for the price of Richard Lengthy & Co’s position within the chapter case. Earlier than Sinclair and Bartlett had been appointed earlier this month, the case had been dealt with by the Official Receiver’s workplace.
HNH chief govt Nick Lowles mentioned: “Since 2017, Tommy Robinson has tried to reinvent himself from a road activist and road agitator to … a journalist. Now, in fact, he stays a road activist and a road agitator as we’re seeing on the weekend in Telford. His behaviour within the run as much as Telford, and holding the occasion in Telford, will not be that of a standard journalist.”
Robinson was issued with a stalking safety order in October after focusing on The Impartial house affairs editor, Lizzie Dearden.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
