Officers Believed Stephen Yaxley-Lennon Had Terrorism-Related Data on Phone, Court Hears.

Legal representatives informed the tribunal that police had valid concerns that Tommy Robinson's mobile contained material related to acts of terrorism when they detained him in the previous year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Denial to Provide Phone Pin

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

Trial Claims on Counter-Terrorism Powers

On the last day of the proceedings, state lawyer Jo Morris stated that the anti-terror authorities used by police are designed to allow information collection. She asserted that police had valid grounds to think Robinson continued to have links to right-wing groups, even following the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his membership of the EDL has come to an end, his beliefs have not gone away. He is recognized for holding those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his phone there may be information relevant to acts of terrorism,” she told the court.

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

Circumstances of the Stop

The campaigner had arrived by himself at the Eurotunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a friend and was on his way to the holiday destination of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a small bag, the court was told.

The funds was said to have been from a collection to offset expenses from organizing a large demonstration that occurred the previous day in a London landmark.

Defense Arguments

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

His barrister, defense counsel, said in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who stopped Robinson had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to evidence from police who said they contacted “partner agencies” after arresting him, Williamson claimed this was a reference to the intelligence agencies and that lack of proof had been offered from the security service to suggest his defendant was a terrorist.

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

He added that officers had used an “extraordinary power that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to discover information that was previously available. Williamson suggested that his client traveled to the resort regularly, which should have reduced the officers’ concerns about him.

Legal Costs and Verdict Timing

Robinson stated that his legal costs in the proceedings were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of social media and electric car companies, who has appeared as an supporter of the far-right activist and lately spoke at a gathering organized by him in London via a online broadcast.

A suggested date of next Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after Williamson said Robinson was scheduled to be a guest of the Israel's administration from the midweek 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.

Goozee said he would deliver his verdict on the start of 4 November.