Azeem Rafiq choked back tears today as he revealed the word P*** was 'used constantly' during his time at Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

The spin bowler told the Digital, Culture, Media

Azeem Rafiq choked back tears today as he revealed the word P*** was 'used constantly' during his time at Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

The spin bowler told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee racism was rife at the side and no one in leadership challenged it.

He claimed when he first joined the team he and other Asian players were told they had to 'sit near the toilets' and called 'elephant washers'.

The athlete launched another broadside at former teammate Gary Ballance, saying it was an open secret in the England dressing room he was racist.

Meanwhile he claimed fellow international star Alex Hales used the word Kevin towards black people - a term allegedly coined by Ballance - before naming his dog it.

And he also hit out at current England Test captain Joe Root, claiming the batsman was on the nights out where he was called a 'P***'.

Asked if English cricket was institutionally racist, the 30-year-old said without hesitating 'yes', but added: 'It's not just Yorkshire.'

During the wide-ranging hearing, Rafiq blinked back tears as he opened up about the 'inhumane' treatment he received from coaches after his wife had a miscarriage.

His emotional testimony had to be brought to an abrupt halt by DCMS chair Julian Knight and adjourned for five minutes so the cricketer could recompose himself.

Rafiq first alleged racial harassment and bullying against the county and accused them of institutional racism in September last year.

Yorkshire CCC launched an investigation soon afterwards but the team's handling of the allegations has been widely slammed.

It published summary findings of the probe in September, which found there was 'no question' Rafiq had been subjected to racial harassment and bullying.

Despite this, no individuals faced disciplinary action and Rafiq has since brought the spotlight down on the cricket club.

Among the explosive claims at the hearing, Rafiq said:

• Despite being a Muslim, aged just 15 he was pinned down in a car and had 'red wine poured down my throat';
• He said he was settled at the club until 2016 under captain Alex Lees and coach Jason Gillespie but not after;
• Rafiq claimed racism surged at the team when Andrew Gale came in as coach and Ballance was made captain;
• He said while he was bullied and racially abused 'no one' at the club had stood up for him despite witnesses;
• Rafiq claimed that the problems at Yorkshire County Cricket Club was replicated 'up and down the country';
• The spin bowler against tried not to cry as he said that he feels that his career has now been 'lost' to racism.

Azeem Rafiq choked back tears today as he revealed the word P*** was 'used constantly' during his time at Yorkshire County Cricket Club

The spin bowler told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee racism was rife at the side and no one in leadership challenged it

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Tom Harrison (left) arrives to attend a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee meeting this morning. Right: Former Yorkshire County Cricket Club chairman Roger Hutton arrives

Rafiq told DCMS: 'Pretty early on at the club, I joined a dressing room full of my heroes, Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard, part of the 2005 Ashes team. And it was just the most surreal moment for me.

'Pretty early on, me and other people from an Asian background...there were comments such as 'you'll sit over there near the toilets', 'elephant washers'.

'The word P*** was used constantly. And there just seemed to be an acceptance in the institution from the leaders and no one ever stamped it out.'

Rafiq added: 'All I wanted to do is play cricket and play for England and live my dream and live my family's dream.'

He added: 'In my first spell, I don't really think I quite realised what it was. I think I was in denial.'

He said he started medication due to his deteriorating mental health and left Yorkshire for the first time in 2014.

When he returned he initially felt settled under captain Alex Lees and coach Jason Gillespie.

'Jason left in 2016 and it just felt the temperature in the room had been turned up,' Rafiq said. 'You had Andrew Gale coming in as coach and Gary Ballance as captain.

'For the first time I started to see for what it was - I felt isolated, humiliated at times. Constant use of the word 'P***'.'

Rafiq said on a 2017 pre-season tour Ballance had racially abused him.

'We were in a place and Gary Ballance walks over and goes, 'Why are you talking to him?

'You know he's a P***'. This happened in front of team-mates. It happened in front of coaching staff.'

Former England batter Ballance admitted using a 'racial slur' towards Rafiq in a lengthy statement this month, apologising but framing it as part of their friendship.

Rafiq told the committee that was not an accurate depiction of their relationship, saying it went downhill from 2013 onwards and had become toxic by 2017.

Asked by chair Julian Knight about the term 'Kevin', he said it was an offensive, racist term that reached the very top of the game.

'Kevin was a something Gary used to describe anyone of colour in a very derogatory manner. It was an open secret in the England dressing room,' he said.

'Anyone who came across Gary would know that was a phrase he would use to describe people of colour.'

Rafiq also alleged former England batter Alex Hales was involved, saying: 'Gary and Alex Hales got really close to each other when they played for England together.

'I wasn't present in that dressing room, but what I understand (is) that Alex went on to name his dog 'Kevin' because it was black. It's disgusting how much of a joke it was.'

Rafiq, who is a Muslim, also described his harrowing first experience of alcohol at the age of 15. 'I got pinned down at my local cricket club and had red wine poured down my throat, literally down my throat,' he said.

'The player played for Yorkshire and Hampshire. I (then) didn't touch alcohol until about 2012 and around that time I felt I had to do that to fit in.

'I wasn't perfect, there are things I did which I felt I had to do to achieve my dreams. I deeply regret that but it has nothing to do with racism.

'When I spoke I should have been listened to. The game as a whole has a problem, with listening to the victim. There is no 'yeah, but' with racism; there is no 'two sides' to racism.'

Rafiq said the problem at Yorkshire was replicated 'up and down the country'.

Asked about the fact others, such as former Essex and Northamptonshire player Maurice Chambers, had now spoken out, Rafiq said: 'I would like to see it as progress that people are feeling like they can come forward and they are going to be heard and not just be discredited, smeared about, briefed about.'

He described England and Wales Cricket Board initiatives on diversity as 'box-ticking' exercises and 'tokenism'. He said former England coach David Lloyd had talked about Rafiq's drinking.

He added: 'He'd been an England coach and commentator and I found it disturbing, because Sky is supposedly doing this amazing work on bringing racism to the front and within a week of me speaking out, that's what I got sent to me and I thought, 'God, there are some closet racists and I need to do something about it'.'

Rafiq added: 'I think with four or five months left on my contract, I was encouraged to sign a confidentiality form and take a parcel of money which I refused.

'At that time it would have been a lot of money for me. I think my wife was struggling. I knew I was struggling.

'There was no way mentally I could have even considered putting myself through this trauma. I actually left the country. I went to Pakistan. I never wanted to come back.'

Asked how he had summoned the strength to come forward, Rafiq added: 'I had an interview about my new business. I got asked a question. And I got emotional. I said everything.

'Even at that point, I genuinely thought that there might be some humanity left in some of these individuals. But no. They thought, 'He hasn't talked about Yorkshire'.

'It was all about 'discredit, discredit, discredit'. I don't know how I've done it. This last 14 months has been incredibly difficult.' The committee took a break as Rafiq became visibly emotional.

Azeem Rafiq said it was 'time for truths' as he heads to London today to address MPs over the racism scandal at Yorkshire Cricket Club

Gary Ballance  is among the cricket stars accused of being racist between 2008 and 2018

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has categorically denied the claim and issued a statement in which he described the accusations as 'extremely upsetting'

Rafiq hit out at England Test captain Joe Root (left), claiming he was on those nights out where he was called a 'P***'. Meanwhile he claimed fellow international star Alex Hales (right) used the word Kevin towards black people - a term allegedly coined by Ballance - before naming his dog it

After the committee took a break as Rafiq became visibly emotional, Rafiq said he found it 'hurtful' England captain Root said he had never witnessed anything of a racist nature at Yorkshire.

'Rooty is a good man. He never engaged in racist language,' Rafiq said.

'I found it hurtful because Rooty was Gary (Ballance)'s housemate and had been involved in a lot of the socialising where I was called a 'P***'.

'It shows how normal it was that even a good man like him doesn't see it for what it was. It's not going to affect Joe, but it's something I remember every day.'

Former England captain Michael Vaughan is named in the independent report into Rafiq's claims, but has strenuously denied allegations he told four Asian team-mates: '(There's) too many of your lot, we need to do something about it.'

Rafiq, Adil Rashid and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan all say they remember those words, while the fourth player Ajmal Shahzad has said he cannot recall any racism at the club.

Asked about Vaughan, Rafiq said: 'Michael might not remember it... three of us, Adil, myself and Rana remember it.

'He clearly had a snippet of my statement. He used his platform at the Daily Telegraph to tell everyone he hadn't said these things. To go on and put a snippet of my statement out and talk about other things, I thought was completely wrong.

'He probably doesn't remember it because it doesn't mean anything to him.'

Rafiq said Yorkshire's investigation into his allegations had been 'far from independent'.

He said that, while the investigation was live, members of the panel were entertained by the county at a Headingley Test match.

'It just shows the arrogance of these people,' he said.

Rafiq criticised the handling of his situation by the ECB and the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA).

He said: 'When George Dobell published (his initial) article (in September 2020) I had a phone call from (ECB chief executive) Tom Harrison. I felt like he was listening, but then they took the stance that they would trust Yorkshire to do the right thing and then as regulators would come in to hold Yorkshire to account.

'It was difficult for me to take through the winter. I kept begging the ECB, the PCA, I kept telling them, 'They (Yorkshire) are not doing the right thing, this is going to end up in a car crash for everyone'.

'No one wanted to do that until that Monday (November 2) when the article broke in Cricinfo, at that point the ECB came in.

'On a human point I felt like if someone else had told me they were suicidal and they were ringing you saying, 'Please help' I'd forget my constitution and help a human. Over the winter there were some real dark moments.

'I didn't feel like they did that because they were concerned for me or worried for me, I feel that was done to tick a box in case I killed myself.'

Rafiq described the PCA as 'incredibly inept' and added: 'An organisation that should have supported me left me on my own.'

He said Matthew Hoggard had apologised to him after watching him being interviewed about his experience at Yorkshire.

He said: 'I took a phone call from Matthew and he just said, 'Look, I didn't realise, I'm really sorry. If some of the comments I made made you feel the way you've described it, I just want to apologise'.

'You know what, when someone does that, I was like, 'Thank you, I really appreciate it'.'

Asked to name other instances of racism he had personally heard about outside of Yorkshire, Rafiq said: 'I've had messages from people who have played at Leicestershire, a guy who played at Middlesex, messages from people who played at Nottinghamshire. Maurice Chambers spoke out yesterday about Essex.

'I've had messages from quite a few.

'Some people are still pretty scared to talk about it. Some still say, 'Is it racism? I don't know'. One reoccurrence is the word 'P***' was used a lot.' Rafiq said he hoped to become 'a voice for the voiceless'.

Former Yorkshire County Cricket Club chairman Roger Hutton (right) arrived with his legal team to testify in front of a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee this morning

Asked about the fact others, such as former Essex and Northamptonshire player Maurice Chambers (pictured), had now spoken out, Rafiq said: 'I would like to see it as progress that people are feeling like they can come forward and they are going to be heard and not just be discredited, smeared about, briefed about'

'My dream, I wasn't able to achieve it,' he said. 'With the stats and stuff around 2017 I had the ability to go right to the top and these experiences weighed down on me.

'Some of the things that have hurt me the most has been the PCA, who I thought would be in my corner, and certain members of the South Asian community.

'Now that I have been brave, or stupid, whatever you want to call it, to stand up to an institution and hold it to account, I want to try and help the young lads who are wanting to achieve their dreams prepare better.

'But hopefully we can actually get the institutions to change so they don't have to.'

Referring to the independent commission for equity in cricket, chaired by Cindy Butts, Rafiq added: 'Action is needed and needed now.

'To be honest, we are sick and tired of these equity commissions and inquiries. Sick and tired.

'All we are asking for is equality, to be treated fairly regardless of the colour of our skin or the religion we follow. Just respect as a human race. It's 2021, we shouldn't even be having this conversation.'

Rafiq said he had been 'staggered' when Yorkshire announced no one would face disciplinary action over his experience at the club.

'I thought, 'At what point are these people going to read the room and realise what they're doing?'. While the investigation was live and they were aware of the allegations against Gary (Ballance), he was made captain and given a three-year contract.

'(Former chairman) Roger (Hutton) had gone to members' forums and said to people this didn't involve anyone at the club. I think even as close as two weeks ago they genuinely felt they could hide this.

'I think they have been left with no option. I don't think (former chief executive) Mark (Arthur) thinks he's done anything wrong.

'I don't think (director of cricket) Martyn (Moxon) feels he's in the wrong. Michael (Vaughan) seems to have taken the same stance as the club - deny, deny, deny.'

Rafiq agreed with Nicolson that he had 'lost his career to racism'. He spoke about the support he had received from his wife and the strain it had placed on family life.

He added: 'We've got two young kids, one's just over two and one's about to turn one. And they've not had a dad really. All I've been worried about is Yorkshire going out to discredit me.'

Former Yorkshire chair Hutton said he had been blocked from removing Arthur and Moxon from the board because the Colin Graves Trust vetoed it.

Graves was Hutton's predecessor as chair and served as ECB chair from 2015 to 2020.

Hutton said he wanted to remove them 'as a consequence of the failure to understand the gravity of the situation (regarding Rafiq) and failing to apologise, and particularly for their failings and to move on the recommendations'.

He said it was 'wrong' that a major creditor like the Trust should have the power to veto board decisions.

Asked why no disciplinary action had been taken against Ballance, Hutton said: 'The short answer is, I had no executive authority or responsibility in my role.'

Rafiq issued a message via Twitter yesterday saying he would tell 'truths' as he prepared for the DCMS select committee hearing in Westminster.

Protected by parliamentary privilege, Rafiq can comment on all aspects of his wide-ranging allegations of institutional racism at Yorkshire without fear of legal reprisal.

The 30-year-old, whose second spell at Headingley ended in 2018, initially voiced his claims in an interview in September 2020.

A protracted probe by Yorkshire concluded he was he was a victim of 'racial harassment and bullying' but, controversially, that nobody would be disciplined.

The report has not been made public and the county's handling of the case attracted heavy criticism, prompting the DCMS committee to become involved.

Rafiq kickstarted the racism row by launching a fierce backlash to the conclusion of Yorkshire CCC's probe into his allegations earlier this year.

The club apologised to him and they later reached a settlement in his employment tribunal to try to put the case to bed.

Ballance and Michael Vaughan revealed they were some of the stars accused of being racist between 2008 and 2018. But Rafiq has continued to blast the club and accused it of being institutionally racist.

The county's former spinner issued the message via a tweet yesterday as he prepared for the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee hearing in Westminster

Rafiq is giving evidence along with former Yorkshire chair Roger Hutton, who resigned in the aftermath of the episode.

Former chief executive Mark Arthur and director of medical services Wayne Morton had initially been listed to attend but their names were not on a revised call list on Monday.

It was already anticipated director of cricket Martyn Moxon would not be there having recently been signed off from work due to a stress-related illness.

The cross-party committee hearing, which is being chaired by Conservative MP Julian Knight, will also take evidence from England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tom Harrison. Other figures from the governing body will also appear.

Rafiq's lawyer, Jen Robinson, told BBC Radio Four's Today programme this morning: 'This is the first time Azeem will be able to tell his story. 

Key questions for today's meeting between Rafiq and MPs 

Who else will be there?

Roger Hutton, who resigned as Yorkshire chair, will follow Rafiq, who begins at 9.30am on Tuesday. 

The DCMS website also suggested Mark Arthur, who quit as chief executive last week, would appear, along with Wayne Morton, the club's head of medical services. 

Azeem Rafiq will be quizzed by MPs in Westminster amid his allegations of racism in cricket

Former Yorkshire cricket chief Roger Hutton will follow Rafiq after his appearance at 9.30am

That no longer appears to be the case. Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire's director of cricket, was already ruled out on health grounds. Another absentee due to illness is acting ECB chair Barry O'Brien, who has had a Covid test.

Alan Dickinson, another ECB board member, will deputise. The other members of the ECB facing questions on its process for dealing with complaints of racism are chief executive Tom Harrison, Meena Botros, the governing body's director of legal and integrity and Kate Miller, its chief diversity and communications officer.

What other key areas will the hearing focus on?

Rafiq has made clear that his focus is not on individuals but the failure of the club to follow its own procedures when he reported racism. 

Rafiq says he will not discuss individuals but rather the failure of the club to follow protocol

But the lack of sanctions for individuals is also likely to be at the forefront of discussion after the investigation found he had been subjected to racial harassment and bullying yet Yorkshire deemed that nobody should face disciplinary action. 

The DCMS committee may also wish to examine in greater detail some of the allegations not upheld by the report, such as Gary Ballance's admission that he regularly used the word 'P**i' — which the inquiry dismissed as 'banter'.

Will Joe Root take part?

No. He is in Australia preparing for the Ashes but Rafiq, who captained Root at Under 19 level, may challenge last week's claim by the 30-year-old that he had not witnessed or heard of racism during his two decades at the club.

And Michael Vaughan? 

He is not involved either but the timing of Adil Rashid's statement on Monday backing Rafiq's claims means it is sure to be one of the main episodes discussed.

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'There has been an investigation in Yorkshire but that has been kept quiet...I think people will be surprised at what they hear he suffered at the club. 

'There's a lot more to be said about the culture of racism and institutional racism at Yorkshire. 

'Of course Azeem has gone through so much, he was encouraged to speak out after the Black Lives Matter movement and for the past year the club has done nothing but try to sweep it under the carpet and keep it quiet and this is the first time he can really tell his story. 

'This is the first part of what he wants to see change which is to acknowledge the problem, talk about the problem and break the silence around racism in cricket. 

'He wants to make sure kids coming through cricket don't go through what he went through. 

'This has never really been about individual players or individual people, for Azeem this has always been about taking on institutional racism and taking on a culture at Yorkshire where it was not only accepted to use racial slurs, it had almost become normalised.  

'He may well give examples at the committee today and it's important people understand what happened. It's about changing the way people are treated in the sport and making sure people feel comfortable to come forward to speak out about the racism they suffer and to create a space for everyone in the game which is more inclusive and diverse. 

'This is really the first vital step. Already we've seen the club is implementing an anonymous whistleblowing system where players and staff can come forward and feel comfortable to speak about their experiences and already we're seeing other clubs around the country considering the same sort of system.'

Rafiq appeared to be embracing his opportunity on Monday, tweeting a video clip of a motorway trip captioned 'time for TRUTHS'. The implication was that he was travelling south with new details to share.

It comes after footage emerged of the moment Vaughan shook hands with Yorkshire's Asian cricket stars ahead of the same 2009 match where he is accused of racially abusing them.

Vaughan said the Sky Sports footage shows a completely different version to the one given by Rafiq who has accused Vaughan of saying: 'There are too many of you lot.'  

The comment was allegedly made ahead of the 2009 T20 match between Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

The video shows Vaughan shaking hands with four Yorkshire team-mates - Adil Rashid, Azeem Rafiq, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Ajmal Shahzad.

Rafiq's claims have been bolstered by current England spin bowler Rashid who said Vaughan made the comments to 'a group of us Asian players'. 

Former England captain Vaughan has categorically denied the claim and issued a statement in which he described the accusations as 'extremely upsetting'.

He said: 'I remember the match clearly because it was the first time in Yorkshire's history that four players of Asian heritage had been selected in the same team.

'I made a point of shaking all four players' hands that day because I recognised it was a significant moment.'

The statement went on to say that being confronted by the allegations 11 years after it happened 'is the worst thing [he has] ever experienced'.  

The racism row continues to rip through English cricket, with Essex the latest club to be rocked with accusations.

ECB bosses vowed to investigate claims they failed to pursue allegations at the side that were lodged three years ago.

John Faragher resigned as its chairman following a claim he used racist language at a board meeting in 2017.

Rashid said he has finally spoken out on the alleged incident with Vaughan in a bid to 'stamp out the cancer' of racism in professional sport.

He told the Cricketer: 'I wanted to concentrate as much as possible on my cricket and to avoid distractions to the detriment of the team but I can confirm Azeem Rafiq's recollection of Michael Vaughan's comments to a group of us Asian players.

'I'm encouraged by the fact that a parliamentary committee seems to be trying to improve the situation, whether that's holding people accountable or getting changes made at an institutional level.

'These can only be positive developments. I will of course be more than happy to support any official efforts when the time is right.'

Rafiq claimed Vaughan said in a 2009 County Championship match: 'There are too many of you lot. We need to do something about it.'

Ex-Pakistan bowler Naved-ul-Hasan said he backed Rafiq's claim but former seamer Ajmal Shahzad said he did not hear the exchange at which he was present.

Vaughan was stood down from his BBC Radio 5 Live show after saying he was named in the independent report into Yorkshire's treatment of Rafiq.

But he is still set to commentate on the Ashes this winter after receiving the backing of Australian rights-holders Fox Sports, who will provide the audio to BT Sport.

BBC executives are nervous of siding with Vaughan due to the sensitivity of the allegations against him.

But the 47-year-old has a long-term contract with Fox, who even paid him last winter despite border restrictions preventing him from travelling to Australia.

Vaughan strongly denied the claims against him, releasing a fresh statement yesterday afternoon.

He said: 'It is extremely upsetting that this completely false accusation has been made against me by a former teammate, apparently supported by two other players. For some time, Ajmal Shazad has been on record as saying that he never heard me say what has been suggested. I have been in contact with the six other players from that team and not one of them has any recollection of the remark being made.

'I fully accept that perspectives differ, and I have great sympathy for what Azeem Rafiq has gone through, but I hope everyone understands why I cannot allow this to go unchallenged or my reputation to be trashed unfairly.'

Social media users have been split on how to view Vaughan after the claims emerged.

Some dug up old tweets where he appeared to make controversial comments, with one in 2010 saying: 'Not many English people live in London.. I need to learn a new language.'

But others highlighted comments made in his book which span a positive light on Yorkshire's first match with four Asian men featuring.

The passage reads: 'The first match against Nottinghamshire on Monday 22 June was quietly significant because it was the first time that we had four players of Asian heritage featuring for Yorkshire.

'This is going to be the shape of things to come for Yorkshire, as many of our most promising players come from the Asian community and it ought to be a good thing for our cricket.' 

Meet Rafiq's Kylie-loving Australian lawyer

London's lawyer du jour Jennifer Robinson represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at his extradition hearing last year.

She was introduced to Assange ten years ago, when he was planning to disseminate top-secret diplomatic cables revealing embassies' often unsavoury backroom deals.

Ms Robinson is the go-to barrister for the rich and famous, recently walking hand in hand with actress Amber Heard in her showdown against her ex-husband Johnny Depp in his acrimonious libel trial. 

Now, she is representing Azeem Rafiq after he accused Yorkshire Cricket Club of being 'institutionally racist'. 

Rafiq, 30, whose second spell at Headingley ended in 2018, initially voiced his claims in an interview in September 2020. 

Australian human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson (left) with Stella Moris (right) the partner Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, outside the Old Bailey today

A protracted investigation by Yorkshire eventually concluded he was he was a victim of 'racial harassment and bullying' but, controversially, that nobody would be disciplined. 

Ms Robinson counts the Hollywood elite among her inner circle, travelling to George and Amal Clooney's wedding on a speedboat with actor Bill Murray. 

A self-confessed Kyle Minogue fan, who has 'nothing in her fridge but Champagne' , the human rights lawyer once set headlines alight after she was spotted canoodling with Jeremy Corbyn's former spin doctor, Seumas Milne.

Ms Robinson, 39, and Mr Milne - a then-married father-of-two - were photographed in a passionate embrace on the terrace of the Courthouse hotel in East London in 2017.

Ms Robinson, who came from humble beginnings in Australia, has been known to use her social media as an outlet to criticise the Tories on their human rights record and tweet support for Corbyn.  

'I'm very Australian,' Ms Robinson said of herself last year. 'I'm open, I'm easygoing, I take my work seriously but I don't take myself at all seriously.' 

Team Heard: The top lawyer was an observer in Heard's case, which saw Depp hit with 14 allegations of domestic violence, claims he defending during the three days of testimony

Ms Robinson at the International Court of Justice in September 2018, at the Chagos Islands proceedings

In 2014, the 39-year-old was carried to the Clooneys' star-studded Venetian wedding in a boat with Bill Murray

In 2017, she was seen canoodling with Jeremy Corbyn's former henchman Seumas Milne, who married at the time 

Ms Robinson, who works from the respected Doughty Chambers in London, has represented Assange for more than 10 years. 

In 2019, she was named international pro bono barrister of the year and prior to lockdown, was pictured at events with Prince Charles and Cherie Blair. 

Ms Robinson, who is known as Jen and is very private about her personal life, is often seen in photos with her hair flawless, stilettos and pencil dress on as she strides into court beside her high-profile client.

She has also appeared on BBC Question Time and most recently supported Amber Heard during the Johnny Depp's libel case against The Sun newspaper in London in July last year.

Ms Robinson was described by Amber Heard, who have worked together after they were introduced by an American colleague four years ago, as 'the most important, treasured asset in my life as a human being, as a sister'. 

Speaking about Ms Heard after the High Court ruling last July, the lawyer said: 'Amber is one of the most intelligent, hard-working and remarkable women I have ever met. It was really important for her that she had women's support around her.'

Amal Clooney, her coworker at Doughty Street Chambers, invited Ms Robinson to  her wedding to film star George in Venice in 2014.  

In 2017, she hit headlines when she was pictured canoodling with Jeremy Corbyn's former henchman Seumas Milne - with her father later telling MailOnline that his daughter was just enjoying a night out and a 'few drinks' with a friend.

Her father, horse trainer Terry, insisted his daughter has been in a 'few relationships' but dismissed suggestions that she was having an affair with the married father-of-two.

In 2011, she gave an interview about her private life and described herself as 'passionate' and 'infinitely curious', and said: 'My friends would probably add, ''the eternal optimist'' or ''a bit bonkers''.'

When asked about her favourite music she said: 'I still love Kylie Minogue - this began at age five and persists today'.

Asked about the contents of her London fridge she joked: 'Nothing but a few bottles of champagne (and maybe a mouldy piece of cheese)' because she eats out so often.

She replied, 'Jude' when asked: 'What comes into your mind when you shut your eyes and think of the word 'law'?'.

In Australia, Jen relaxes by surfing and riding. In London, pre-Covid, she enjoyed more of a work-hard, party-harder existence, but added of her fridge contents: 'That's still partly true, though these days I'm on more of a health kick so you might also see vegetable juices and kale.' 

She has also worked with Cherie Blair to defend Marsha Lazareva, a prominent businesswoman held in Kuwait on 'false charges of money laundering and embezzlement'. 

Ms Robinson grew up in the small town of Berry, NSW, Australia - the eldest of six children and a keen netball player - where her father is a celebrated racehorse trainer and her mother works as a teacher.

Speaking of her upbringing, she has previously said: 'It was a really idyllic place to grow up, very safe. It felt like there was nothing to worry about.' 

She graduated with a double degree in law and Asian studies from the Australian National University, and is fluent in Indonesian.

She later became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, attending Balliol College and graduating with a Bachelor of Civil Law with Distinction and a Master of Philosophy in International Public Law. 

Ms Robinson (centre, with Amber Heard, left, and Cherie Blair, right (in September 2019) as she took the case of Marsha Lazareva - imprisoned in Kuwait for over a year on false charges - to the United Nations

Ms Robinson, arriving at court today, has become one of the UK's highest profile human rights and media lawyers, working in the practice established by Geoffrey Robertson

Ms Robinson (centre) was pictured accompanying Johnny Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard (second from the right) into the High Court in London on July 9. Ms Heard was also joined by her partner Bianca Butti (left) and her sister Whitney (top left)

She previously worked at London law firm Finers Stephens Innocent LLP and has gone on to become one of the UK's most recognised human rights and media lawyers.

Her current firm was founded by another Australian-born ex-Rhodes Scholar Geoffrey Robertson QC, with whom she has worked with for more than six years.

Ms Robinson advises clients in international law, appeared in the International Court of Justice and has given expert evidence at the UN and in Parliament. 

She has a particular focus on 'free speech and civil liberties, advising media organisations, journalists and whistle-blowers on all aspects of media law'. 

Having practised as a solicitor, Ms Robinson - known to Jen by friends and colleagues - also serves on the advisory board of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights. 

'I am proud that women from my chambers, like Jennifer and Amal Clooney, are proving that young women can rise high in the law and overcome the bars and sexism in what used to be a male-dominated profession,' Mr Robertson told News Corp in July 2020.

'She is quite brilliant and has assisted me on those important cases and has done very well and is having a successful career working at my Chambers.' 

Ms Robinson is also working for the independence of West Papua, a former Dutch colony.  

While one of her brothers lives in the UK working in horse racing, the rest of her family is largely in Australia, where she has returned to lecture on law and mentor students.

Jill Appleton, her headteacher at Bomaderry High School said that she was 'a lovely girl' who was named the Berry Showgirl in 2000.

Ms Robinson (right) has worked on Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's legal team since October 2010 and is best friends with Amal Clooney - pictured right in the background

Organisers insist it is not a beauty pageant and say it finds young women to act as an 'ambassador' for the area in state and national show.

She represented Assange, 49, last September at a multi-week extradition hearing, which saw  District Judge Vanessa Baraitser rule in January that Assange should not be sent to the US, citing a real risk of suicide. Ms Robinson was unable to be in court as she remained in Australia amid Covid-19 restrictions.

Assange, 50, is wanted in America on allegations of a conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information following WikiLeaks' publication of hundreds of thousands of leaked documents relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

Last month, Assange - who is being represented by his barrister Edward Fitzgerald QC - has appeared back in court as the US is trying to overturn his extradition ban.

James Lewis QC, for the US, told the High Court last month that the district judge 'entirely based her decision' on the risk Assange would be submitted to special administrative measures and detained at the ADX Florence Supermax jail, if extradited.

But Mr Lewis said four diplomatic assurances had been made, including that it would consent to him being transferred to Australia to serve any prison sentence he may be given, which 'fundamentally change the factual basis' of her judgment.

In written submissions, Mr Lewis said the district judge also based her decision on Assange's 'intellectual ability to circumvent suicide preventative measures', which risked implementing an impossible threshold for states seeking extradition.

The High Court said it was issue a ruling on the extradition appeal at a later date last month, saying they would 'take their time' to make a decision.

Speaking about Assange's case last year, Ms Robinson said: 'Sometimes it felt like I'd woken up in a spy movie. During the Assange extradition hearing I was personally targeted by a security company that was capturing not just legally privileged conversations but trying to find out more information about me. 

'I was stopped from boarding a plane to Australia and told I was on a watch list and needed official approval to fly. Lawyers' Rights Watch complained to the US government about the way it was treating an Australian lawyer in London. It's the kind of thing that happens in countries like Mexico.'

More generally, she said: 'Julian is one of the most intelligent people I've ever met. The strength that he's had to have to withstand what he's been through in the past decade is extraordinary. 

'Those of us who've worked with him over the years were not surprised when it came out that he has Asperger's, because that explains his focus and his memory for detail and also the fact that at times he can be very difficult. But he really deserves recognition for what he's done.'

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