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Prosecutors informed the court that police maintained reasonable suspicions that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's mobile held material related to acts of terrorism when they detained him in the previous year as he attempted to depart from the UK.

Refusal to Provide Device Password

The far-right activist, whose real name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly refused to provide his phone pin to police, claiming it included “journalistic material.” This happened after he was stopped at the Channel tunnel on July 28, 2024.

Trial Claims on Anti-Terror Powers

On the last day of the trial, state lawyer Jo Morris argued that the counter-terrorism powers employed by law enforcement are designed to allow intelligence gathering. She asserted that officers had valid grounds to think Robinson continued to have connections to right-wing groups, even following the disbandment of the EDL organization.

While his membership of the EDL has ceased, his beliefs have not gone away. He is known for holding those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his telephone there could be data pertaining 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 engaged in illegal actions.”

Details of the Detention

The activist had arrived by himself at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was traveling to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial heard.

The money was said to have been from a collection to offset expenses from arranging a major rally that took place the previous day in a London landmark.

Legal Team Submissions

Robinson, who denies failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the incident on 28 July of the previous year, could receive up to 90 days in prison or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His barrister, defense counsel, argued in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who stopped Robinson had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to testimony from officers who said they called other organizations” after arresting Robinson, the defense lawyer claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that lack of proof had been offered from MI5 to indicate his client was a security threat.

Williamson said the officers’ action was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the decision 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 find out details that was already known. Williamson proposed that Robinson traveled to the resort frequently, which ought to have lessened the police suspicions about him.

Expenses and Verdict Date

Robinson claimed that his legal costs in the case were being paid for by Elon Musk, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an supporter of the far-right activist and recently spoke at a rally arranged by him in London via a livestream.

A proposed date of next Tuesday for the verdict was altered by the district judge, the judge, after the defense said Robinson was scheduled to be a guest of the Israeli government from Wednesday and would not come back 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 Williamson.

The judge announced he would deliver his verdict on the morning of 4 November.