Police Suspected Tommy Robinson Had Terrorism-Related Data on Phone, Trial Told.

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

Refusal to Provide Device Password

The far-right activist, whose legal name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly declined to hand over his phone pin to officers, claiming it contained journalist content.” This happened after he was intercepted at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Prosecution Arguments on Anti-Terror Authority

On the final day of the trial, prosecutor Jo Morris argued that the anti-terror authorities employed by law enforcement are designed to allow intelligence gathering. She asserted that police had valid grounds to believe the defendant still have connections to right-wing groups, even after the disbandment of the EDL organization.

While his affiliation of the English Defence League has come to an end, his views have not gone away. He is recognized for having those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his phone there may be information pertaining to terrorist acts,” she informed the court.

Morris continued, His opinions – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their concern on July 28. It was his connection to individuals who are possibly engaged in illegal actions.”

Circumstances of the Detention

The activist had turned up alone at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley owned by a friend and was on his way to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a small bag, the trial heard.

The money was said to have been from a donation drive to cover costs from organizing a major rally that occurred the day before in Trafalgar Square.

Defense Arguments

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

His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in final arguments that counter-terrorism police who stopped 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 detaining Robinson, the defense lawyer claimed this was a allusion to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from MI5 to indicate his defendant was a terrorist.

He said the police action was biased” because it was based to a large extent on a personal attribute.” He stated that the main factor” on the decision to detain him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He noted that officers had used an special authority that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to find out information that was already known. The barrister suggested that Robinson journeyed to the resort regularly, which ought to have reduced the officers’ suspicions about him.

Expenses and Verdict Timing

The activist stated that his court expenses in the case were being covered by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of social media and electric car companies, who has emerged as an ally of the far-right activist and lately spoke at a gathering organized by him in London via a livestream.

A suggested day of next Tuesday for the decision was changed by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after Williamson said Robinson was scheduled to be a invitee 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 hand down his verdict on the morning of 4 November.