Holt said that after the murders of three young girls in Southport on 29 July 2024, Yaxley-Lennon made a number of posts on social media. This alerted the Daily Mail and Mail Online to the fact that he was in Cyprus.
The Daily Mail published articles that included photographs of the defendant, including one showing him “reclining on a sunbed using his mobile telephone”.
Southwark Crown Court heard that over the following days, he made a series of posts on his X account in response.
On 4 August, these included: “The daily mail have purposely gave the location of where I am with my children knowing full well that people want to kill me.”
Another post said: “The daily mail have purposely doxed the exact location of my family. How can they be allowed to do this’.”
There were no identifiable pictures of Yaxley-Lennon’s children published by the Daily Mail or in the Mail Online, jurors were told.
Holt said the trial was about Yaxley-Lennon’s reaction to the articles, and accused him of using “bully-boy tactics” to “intimidate” the journalists.
“He chose to frighten them, arrange for individuals to go to their addresses,” said the prosecuting counsel.
“On social media — to millions of followers — he circulated images of their homes.
“His supporters got involved — threatening the journalists.
“Understandably, you might agree, they were scared; in some circumstances, being forced to leave their homes.”