Police Thought Tommy Robinson Had Terrorism-Related Data on Phone, Court Hears.

Prosecutors informed the tribunal that police maintained valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's mobile contained material relevant to acts of terrorism when they detained him in the previous year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Refusal to Give Device Pin

The right-wing campaigner, using his real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, reportedly declined to hand over his password to police, claiming it included “journalistic material.” This happened after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on 28 July 2024.

Prosecution Claims on Anti-Terror Powers

On the last day of the trial, state lawyer Jo Morris stated that the counter-terrorism powers employed by police are intended to permit information collection. She claimed that police had reasonable suspicion to think the defendant continued to have connections to far-right activists, even after the dissolution of the EDL organization.

“Although his affiliation of the EDL has come to an end, his views have not disappeared. He is recognized for having those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his telephone there may be information relevant to acts of terrorism,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.

The prosecutor continued, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their concern on 28 July. It was his association to others who are possibly engaged in illegal actions.”

Details of the Stop

The activist had turned up alone at the Eurotunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a friend and was traveling to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the court was told.

The money was reportedly from a collection to cover costs from organizing a major rally that occurred the previous day in a London landmark.

Defense Arguments

Robinson, who disputes failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the incident on 28 July of the previous year, could receive up to three months in jail or a potential £2,500 fine if convicted.

His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in final arguments that anti-terror officers who stopped Robinson had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Referring to testimony from officers who said they contacted “partner agencies” after arresting him, Williamson claimed this was a allusion to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from the security service to suggest his defendant was a terrorist.

He said the officers’ action was “discriminatory” because it was based to a large extent on a personal attribute.” He stated that the main factor” on the choice to detain him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He noted that police had used an “extraordinary power that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to discover details that was previously available. Williamson suggested that his client journeyed to Benidorm regularly, which should have lessened the officers’ suspicions about him.

Expenses and Judgment Timing

The activist stated that his court expenses in the proceedings were being covered by Elon Musk, the proprietor of social media and electric car companies, who has appeared as an supporter of the far-right activist and lately spoke at a gathering organized by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A proposed date of the following Tuesday for the decision was altered by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after the defense explained his client was due to be a guest of the Israel's administration from Wednesday and would not return until 25 October.

{“I wouldn’t trouble you if this was a trip to Benidorm. I would ask him to rearrange it but he is a guest of a foreign government,” stated Williamson.

Goozee announced he would hand down his ruling on the morning of 4 November.