Officers Believed Tommy Robinson Possessed Terrorism-Related Information on Phone, Trial Told.

Prosecutors informed the court that law enforcement maintained reasonable suspicions indicating Tommy Robinson's phone contained material related to terrorist activities when they stopped him last year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Denial to Provide Phone Password

The far-right activist, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly refused to provide his password to officers, claiming it included “journalistic material.” This happened after he was stopped at the Channel tunnel on July 28, 2024.

Prosecution Claims on Anti-Terror Powers

On the last day of the trial, prosecutor the prosecution argued that the counter-terrorism powers employed by police are intended to allow information collection. She asserted that police had reasonable suspicion to believe Robinson still have connections to right-wing groups, even following the disbandment of the EDL organization.

While his membership of the EDL has ceased, his views have not gone away. He is known for holding those views and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his phone there may be data relevant to terrorist acts,” she told Westminster magistrates court.

The prosecutor added, His opinions – to which he is allowed – were not the subject for their concern on 28 July. It was his association to others who are possibly involved in illegal actions.”

Details of the Detention

The campaigner had turned up alone at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle belonging to a friend and was traveling to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial was told.

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

Legal Team Arguments

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

His lawyer, defense counsel, argued in final arguments that anti-terror officers who detained Robinson had engaged in a “fishing expedition” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Referring to testimony from officers who said they called other organizations” after arresting him, the defense lawyer claimed this was a reference to the security services and that no evidence had been presented from the security service to indicate his defendant was a terrorist.

He asserted the police action was biased” because it was based to a large extent on a personal attribute.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the decision to stop him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He noted that police had used an special authority that must be properly policed” to try to discover information that was previously available. The barrister suggested that Robinson journeyed to Benidorm regularly, which should have lessened the officers’ concerns about him.

Expenses and Judgment Timing

Robinson claimed that his legal costs in the proceedings were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the owner of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an ally of the far-right activist and lately addressed a gathering organized by him in the capital via a livestream.

A proposed day of the following Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, the judge, after the defense said his client was scheduled to be a guest of the Israel's administration 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 said he would hand down his ruling on the start of 4 November.