Officers Thought Tommy Robinson Had Terrorist Information on Phone, Trial Told.

Prosecutors told the court that law enforcement had valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone held material related to acts of terrorism when they detained him last year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Refusal to Provide Phone Pin

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

Prosecution Arguments on Anti-Terror Authority

On the final day of the trial, prosecutor Jo Morris argued that the counter-terrorism powers employed by law enforcement are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She claimed that officers had reasonable suspicion to believe Robinson still have links to far-right activists, even following the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).

“Although his membership of the EDL has ceased, his views have not gone away. He is recognized for holding those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his telephone there could be data relevant to terrorist acts,” she told the court.

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

Circumstances of the Detention

The activist had turned up alone at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a friend and was traveling to the holiday destination of Benidorm with more than £13,000 in a small bag, the court was told.

The money was reportedly from a donation drive to offset expenses from organizing a major rally that occurred the day before in a London landmark.

Defense Submissions

Robinson, who denies failing to comply with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on 28 July of the previous year, faces up to three months in jail or a possible £2,500 penalty if convicted.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in closing submissions that counter-terrorism police who detained Robinson had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Citing testimony from police who said they called other organizations” after arresting Robinson, Williamson claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been presented from MI5 to indicate his client was a terrorist.

He asserted the officers’ intervention was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the decision to stop him was recognizing his identity”.

He added that police had used an special authority that must be properly policed” to try to discover details that was already known. Williamson proposed that Robinson journeyed to the resort regularly, which should have reduced the officers’ suspicions about him.

Legal Costs and Verdict Timing

Robinson claimed that his court expenses in the case were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an ally of the far-right activist and lately addressed a rally arranged by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A proposed day of the following Tuesday for the decision was altered by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, 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,” stated the barrister.

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