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Prosecutors told the court that police maintained valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained information related to terrorist activities when they detained him in the previous year as he attempted to depart from the UK.

Denial to Provide Phone Pin

The far-right activist, using his legal name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly refused to hand over his password to officers, stating it contained journalist content.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Channel tunnel on July 28, 2024.

Trial Claims on Counter-Terrorism Powers

On the last day of the proceedings, prosecutor Jo Morris argued that the counter-terrorism powers employed by police are designed to allow information collection. She asserted that officers had reasonable suspicion to believe Robinson continued to have links to far-right activists, even following the disbandment of the EDL organization.

While his affiliation of the EDL has come to an end, his beliefs have not disappeared. He is known for having those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his telephone there may be data relevant to terrorist acts,” she told the court.

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

Circumstances of the Stop

The activist had turned up alone at the Eurotunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a friend and was traveling to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with more than £13,000 in a small bag, the trial was told.

The money was reportedly from a collection to cover costs from arranging a major rally that took place the previous day in Trafalgar Square.

Legal Team Arguments

The defendant, who denies non-compliance with anti-terror laws during the encounter on July 28 of the previous year, could receive up to 90 days in prison or a potential £2,500 penalty if found guilty.

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

Citing evidence from police who stated they contacted “partner agencies” after detaining him, Williamson said this was a allusion to the security services and that lack of proof had been offered from MI5 to suggest his defendant was a security threat.

He said the officers’ intervention was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He said that the main factor” on the decision to stop him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He added that officers had used an “extraordinary power that needs to be properly policed” to try to find out details that was already known. The barrister proposed that Robinson traveled to the resort regularly, which ought to have reduced the officers’ suspicions about him.

Legal Costs and Verdict Date

Robinson stated that his court expenses in the proceedings were being covered by Elon Musk, the owner of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an supporter of the campaigner and recently spoke at a rally arranged by him in the capital via a livestream.

A proposed date of the following Tuesday for the verdict was altered by the district judge, the judge, after Williamson said Robinson was scheduled to be a guest of the Israel's administration from the midweek and would not come back until 25 October.

{“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.

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