Officers Believed Tommy Robinson Had Terrorism-Related Data on Mobile Device, Trial Told.

Prosecutors informed the court that police maintained valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's mobile held material related to terrorist activities when they stopped him in the previous year as he attempted to depart from the UK.

Denial to Provide Device Password

The right-wing campaigner, using his real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, reportedly refused to provide his phone pin to police, claiming it included journalist content.” This happened after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on 28 July 2024.

Trial Arguments on Counter-Terrorism Authority

On the last day of the trial, state lawyer the prosecution argued that the anti-terror authorities used by police are designed to permit intelligence gathering. She asserted that officers had valid grounds to think Robinson still have links to far-right activists, even following the disbandment of the English Defence League (EDL).

“Although his affiliation of the English Defence League has come to an end, his beliefs have not gone away. He is known for holding those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his phone there could be data pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she informed the court.

The prosecutor continued, “His beliefs – to which he is allowed – were not the subject for their attention on 28 July. It was his association to individuals who are possibly engaged in prohibited activities.”

Circumstances of the Stop

The campaigner had arrived by himself at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was on his way to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the court was told.

The funds was said to have been from a collection to offset expenses from arranging a major rally that occurred the day before in Trafalgar Square.

Legal Team Arguments

The defendant, who denies failing to comply with counter-terrorism powers during the incident on July 28 of the previous year, faces up to three months in jail or a potential £2,500 penalty if found guilty.

His barrister, defense counsel, argued in final arguments that anti-terror officers who detained Robinson had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Referring to evidence from police who stated they called other organizations” after detaining Robinson, the defense lawyer said this was a allusion to the security services and that lack of proof had been offered from the security service to indicate his client was a terrorist.

He said the police intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the choice to stop him was recognizing his identity”.

He added that police had used an special authority that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to find out information that was previously available. The barrister suggested that Robinson journeyed to Benidorm regularly, which should have lessened the police suspicions about him.

Legal Costs and Judgment Timing

Robinson stated that his court expenses in the proceedings were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of social media and electric car companies, who has emerged as an supporter of the far-right activist and lately spoke at a gathering arranged by him in London via a livestream.

A proposed day of the following Tuesday for the decision was altered by the magistrate, the judge, after the defense explained his client was scheduled to be a invitee of the Israeli government 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,” said Williamson.

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