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Legal representatives told the court that police had reasonable suspicions indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained information related to acts of terrorism when they stopped him last year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Refusal to Provide Phone Pin

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

Trial Claims on Counter-Terrorism Authority

On the last day of the proceedings, prosecutor Jo Morris argued that the counter-terrorism powers employed by law enforcement are designed to permit information collection. She claimed that officers had valid grounds to think the defendant still have links to right-wing groups, even after the disbandment of the EDL organization.

“Although his membership of the EDL has come to an end, his beliefs have not disappeared. He is recognized for having those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to believe that on his telephone there could be information pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.

The prosecutor continued, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their attention on July 28. It was his connection to others who are potentially engaged in prohibited activities.”

Details of the Stop

The campaigner had turned up by himself at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley owned by a friend and was traveling to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the court was told.

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

Defense Submissions

The defendant, who disputes failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the incident on July 28 last year, could receive up to 90 days in jail or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who detained Robinson had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to evidence from officers who said they contacted “partner agencies” after arresting Robinson, the defense lawyer said this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that lack of proof had been offered from MI5 to indicate his defendant was a security threat.

Williamson asserted the police action was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He stated 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 must be carefully regulated” to try to discover information that was already known. The barrister proposed that Robinson traveled to Benidorm frequently, which ought to have reduced the police concerns about him.

Expenses and Verdict Date

The activist stated that his legal costs in the proceedings were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an supporter of the campaigner and lately addressed a rally organized by him in London via a online broadcast.

A proposed date of the following Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, the judge, after the defense said Robinson was due to be a invitee 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,” said the barrister.

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