ANTI-RACIST campaigners stood their ground as 1,000 thugs gathered outside the Old Bailey today to support hate preacher “Tommy Robinson,” whose case was referred back to the Attorney General.

The far-right leader, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is pursuing an appeal after being found guilty of contempt of court when he broke reporting restrictions by filming at grooming trials being heard at Leeds Crown Court in May.

He was handed a 13-month jail sentence but was granted bail in August and has now been referred to the Attorney General as his case is “so complex.”

Recorder of London Nicholas Hilliard QC had planned to decide whether Mr Yaxley-Lennon should be jailed for the second time. However, the judge decided that the Attorney General could enable lawyers to cross-examine Mr Yaxley-Lennon and witnesses.

Judge Hilliard said the decision came after the “nature and extent of the controversies” to be considered emerged in a letter submitted to him by Mr Yaxley-Lennon.

Facing 1,000 beer-swigging fascists howling their support for their idol, about 100 anti-racists held placards calling for a stand against division and delivered chants of “Tommy Robinson go to hell, take your nazi friends as well.”

Unite Against Fascism co-convener Weyman Bennett told the Star that they were protesting because they refuse to “cede our streets to [the racists].”

He said: “Tommy Robinson joined white men who hurled racist abuse at us and threatened us, but we refused to be intimidated.

“We are facing an insurgent far-right organisation behind Tommy Robinson, but we are still the majority. We can defeat them provided we come together in unity.

“Robinson made a speech saying he was being denied free speech — but it was a hate speech.

“He attempted to insult us, but the real insult was him presenting himself as a working-class leader when he is an ex-BNP petty criminal with a history of domestic violence — and [former] leader of the English Defence League, [which] harboured in their ranks three convicted child abusers and paedophiles.

“The trade-union movement and socialists have to be at the heart of the resistance to the far right from Brazil to Britain.”

Mr Yaxley-Lennon addressed his crowd of followers on a stage outside the Old Bailey with a person wearing a Donald Trump mask next to him. Ukip leader Gerard Batten also appeared on stage to give a speech supporting Mr Yaxley-Lennon.

Among their flags was one for Generation Identity, which anti-fascism campaign group Hope Not Hate describes as a “racist movement” that supports segregation along racial lines.

Stand Up To Racism co-convener Sabby Dhalu warned that the “toxic far-right alliance” is being normalised and beginning to grow.

She said: “This underlines the urgent need to build the biggest and broadest possible movement against racism and the far right.

“We must work together to show we are the anti-racist majority, and the national unity demonstration against racism and fascism on November 17 is a key part of that.”