Police Believed Tommy Robinson Possessed Terrorism-Related Information on Phone, Court Hears.

Legal representatives told the court that police maintained valid concerns that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained information relevant to terrorist activities when they detained him last year as he tried to leave the UK.

Refusal to Give Phone Password

The far-right activist, whose real name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly refused to provide his password to officers, claiming it contained journalist content.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Channel tunnel on 28 July 2024.

Trial Arguments on Anti-Terror Authority

On the last day of the trial, prosecutor the prosecution stated that the anti-terror authorities employed by law enforcement are intended to allow information collection. She claimed that officers had valid grounds to believe Robinson still have connections to right-wing groups, even following the disbandment of the English Defence League (EDL).

“Although his membership of the English Defence League has come to an end, his views have not gone away. He is known for having those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his telephone there could be information relevant to acts of terrorism,” she told the court.

The prosecutor added, His opinions – to which he is allowed – were not the subject for their attention on July 28. It was his association to others who are possibly involved in illegal actions.”

Details of the Detention

The campaigner had arrived by himself at the Eurotunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a acquaintance and was traveling to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a carry-on, the court was told.

The funds was reportedly from a donation drive to offset expenses from arranging a major rally that took place the day before in a London landmark.

Legal Team Arguments

The defendant, who denies failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the incident on July 28 last year, faces up to three months in jail or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His barrister, defense counsel, said in final arguments that counter-terrorism police who detained Robinson had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Referring to testimony from police who said they contacted “partner agencies” after arresting Robinson, Williamson said this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies 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 “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the choice to stop him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He noted that police had used an special authority that must be properly policed” to try to discover details that was previously available. Williamson proposed that his client traveled to Benidorm regularly, which ought to have lessened the officers’ suspicions about him.

Expenses and Judgment Timing

Robinson claimed that his legal costs in the proceedings were being covered by Elon Musk, the proprietor of social media and electric car companies, who has emerged as an ally of the far-right activist and recently addressed a rally organized by him in the capital via a livestream.

A suggested date of the following Tuesday for the verdict was altered by the district judge, the judge, after the defense explained Robinson was scheduled to be a invitee of the Israel's administration 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 Williamson.

The judge said he would deliver his ruling on the morning of 4 November.