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Prosecutors told the court that police maintained reasonable suspicions indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained material related to acts of terrorism when they detained him in the previous year as he tried to depart from the UK.

Denial to Give Device Password

The right-wing campaigner, whose legal name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly refused to hand over his phone pin to police, claiming it contained journalist content.” This happened after he was intercepted at the Channel tunnel on 28 July 2024.

Trial Claims on Anti-Terror Powers

On the final day of the trial, prosecutor Jo Morris stated that the anti-terror authorities used by law enforcement are intended to permit information collection. She asserted that officers had valid grounds to think the defendant continued to have connections to right-wing groups, even after the dissolution of the EDL organization.

While his membership of the English Defence League has come to an end, his views have not gone away. He is known for holding those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his phone there could be information pertaining to terrorist acts,” she informed the court.

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

Circumstances of the Detention

The activist had turned up alone at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle belonging to a acquaintance and was traveling to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a small bag, the trial heard.

The funds was reportedly from a donation drive to cover expenses from organizing a large demonstration that took place the day before in a London landmark.

Legal Team Arguments

Robinson, who denies failing to comply with counter-terrorism powers during the incident on 28 July of the previous year, faces up to three months in prison or a possible £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His barrister, defense counsel, argued in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who stopped Robinson had engaged in a “fishing expedition” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Citing evidence from officers who said they called other organizations” after arresting him, Williamson said this was a reference to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from the security service to indicate his defendant was a terrorist.

Williamson asserted the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a large extent on a personal attribute.” He said that the main factor” on the choice to stop him was recognizing his identity”.

He noted that officers had used an “extraordinary power that needs to be properly policed” to try to find out details that was previously available. The barrister proposed that Robinson journeyed to Benidorm frequently, which ought to have reduced the police concerns about him.

Expenses and Judgment Date

Robinson claimed that his legal costs in the case were being covered by Elon Musk, the proprietor of social media and electric car companies, who has appeared as an supporter of the campaigner and recently addressed a gathering arranged by him in the capital via a livestream.

A proposed date of the following Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, the judge, after Williamson said Robinson was due to be a invitee of the Israeli government from the midweek and would not return until October 25.

{“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 the barrister.

Goozee announced he would deliver his ruling on the start of 4 November.