🔗 Share this article

Legal representatives informed the tribunal that police maintained reasonable suspicions indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone held material relevant to acts of terrorism when they stopped him last year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Refusal to Provide Device Pin

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

Trial Arguments on Counter-Terrorism Authority

On the final day of the proceedings, prosecutor Jo Morris stated that the counter-terrorism powers used by law enforcement are designed to allow intelligence gathering. She claimed that police had valid grounds to believe the defendant still have connections to right-wing groups, even following the disbandment of the EDL organization.

“Although his affiliation of the EDL has ceased, his beliefs have not gone away. He is known for holding those views and therefore it is a valid concern to believe that on his telephone there could be information relevant to terrorist acts,” she informed the court.

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

Details of the Detention

The campaigner had turned up by himself at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a friend and was traveling to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with over £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial heard.

The money was said to have been from a collection to cover costs from arranging a major rally that occurred the day before in a London landmark.

Legal Team Submissions

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

His barrister, defense counsel, said in final arguments that anti-terror officers who detained Robinson had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to evidence from officers who stated they called other organizations” after arresting him, the defense lawyer said this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been presented from the security service to indicate his defendant was a security threat.

Williamson asserted the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the decision to detain him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He added 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 proposed that Robinson journeyed to the resort regularly, which ought to have reduced the officers’ concerns about him.

Expenses 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 far-right activist and lately addressed a rally arranged by him in the capital via a livestream.

A suggested date of next Tuesday for the decision was changed by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after the defense explained Robinson was scheduled to be a invitee of the Israel's administration from the midweek and would not return 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 hand down his ruling on the start of 4 November.