🔗 Share this article

Prosecutors informed the tribunal that police had reasonable suspicions indicating Tommy Robinson's mobile contained material related to terrorist activities when they stopped him in the previous year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Denial to Provide Device Pin

The far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly declined to hand over his password to police, stating it included “journalistic material.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Prosecution Claims on Anti-Terror Powers

On the final day of the trial, prosecutor Jo Morris stated that the anti-terror authorities employed by law enforcement are designed to allow information collection. She asserted that police had reasonable suspicion to believe the defendant continued to have links to right-wing groups, even after the disbandment of the English Defence League (EDL).

“Although his affiliation of the English Defence League has come to an end, his beliefs have not disappeared. He is recognized for holding those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his telephone there may be information pertaining to terrorist acts,” she told Westminster magistrates court.

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

Circumstances of the Detention

The campaigner had arrived by himself at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle belonging to a acquaintance and was on his way to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a small bag, the court heard.

The funds was said to have been from a donation drive to offset expenses from organizing a major rally that took place the previous day in Trafalgar Square.

Defense Submissions

The defendant, who denies failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the incident on July 28 of the previous year, faces up to 90 days in prison or a possible £2,500 fine if convicted.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in final arguments that counter-terrorism police who detained Robinson had engaged in a “fishing expedition” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Citing testimony from police who said they contacted “partner agencies” after detaining him, the defense lawyer said this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been presented from MI5 to suggest his defendant was a terrorist.

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

He added that officers had used an special authority that must be carefully regulated” to try to find out details that was already known. Williamson proposed that Robinson traveled to Benidorm regularly, which should have reduced the officers’ concerns about him.

Legal Costs and Judgment Timing

The activist stated that his court expenses in the proceedings were being covered by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an supporter of the campaigner and recently spoke at a rally arranged by him in London via a online broadcast.

A suggested day of the following Tuesday for the decision was changed by the district judge, the judge, after Williamson explained his client was scheduled to be a invitee of the Israel's administration from Wednesday and would not return 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 the barrister.

The judge said he would hand down his verdict on the start of 4 November.