Officers Believed Tommy Robinson Possessed Terrorist Data on Phone, Court Hears.
Legal representatives told the court that law enforcement maintained reasonable suspicions that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained material related to terrorist activities when they detained him in the previous year as he tried to depart from the UK.
Refusal to Provide Device Password
The far-right activist, using his legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly declined to hand over his password to officers, stating it included journalist content.” This happened after he was intercepted at the Channel tunnel on 28 July 2024.
Trial Claims on Anti-Terror Authority
On the final day of the trial, prosecutor the prosecution stated that the counter-terrorism powers employed by law enforcement are designed to allow information collection. She asserted that officers had valid grounds to believe Robinson still have links to right-wing groups, even following the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).
“Although his membership of the English Defence League has come to an end, his views have not gone away. He is recognized for holding those views and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his telephone there could be information relevant to acts of terrorism,” she informed the court.
Morris continued, “His beliefs – to which he is allowed – were not the subject for their concern on July 28. It was his association to individuals who are possibly engaged in illegal actions.”
Details of the Stop
The activist had arrived alone at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was traveling to the holiday destination of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a small bag, the court was told.
The funds was said to have been from a donation drive to offset expenses from organizing a large demonstration that occurred the previous day in Trafalgar Square.
Defense Submissions
Robinson, who disputes non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on 28 July last year, could receive up to three months in prison or a possible £2,500 penalty if found guilty.
His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in closing submissions that counter-terrorism police who stopped his client had engaged in a “fishing expedition” and that he had been unlawfully detained.
Referring to testimony from police who said they contacted other organizations” after arresting Robinson, the defense lawyer said this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been offered from the security service to indicate his defendant was a terrorist.
He asserted the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the choice 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 discover information that was previously available. The barrister suggested that Robinson journeyed to Benidorm regularly, which ought to have lessened the officers’ suspicions about him.
Expenses and Verdict Timing
The activist stated that his legal costs in the proceedings were being paid for by Elon Musk, the owner of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an ally of the far-right activist and recently addressed a rally organized by him in the capital via a online broadcast.
A suggested date of next Tuesday for the decision was changed by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after the defense explained Robinson was scheduled to be a invitee of the Israeli government 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 Williamson.
Goozee announced he would hand down his verdict on the morning of 4 November.