🔗 Share this article

Legal representatives told the court that law enforcement had reasonable suspicions indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's mobile held information related to terrorist activities when they stopped him in the previous year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Denial to Provide Device Password

The right-wing campaigner, whose real name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly declined to provide his phone pin to officers, claiming it contained “journalistic material.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Prosecution Arguments on Anti-Terror Authority

On the final day of the trial, state lawyer Jo Morris stated that the anti-terror authorities employed by police are designed to allow intelligence gathering. She asserted that officers had reasonable suspicion to believe Robinson still have connections to far-right activists, even following the disbandment of the EDL organization.

While his membership of the EDL has ceased, his beliefs have not disappeared. He is known for holding those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his telephone there could be information pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she told the court.

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

Circumstances of the Detention

The activist had turned up alone at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a acquaintance and was on his way to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with over £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial heard.

The funds was said to have been from a collection to cover costs from organizing a major rally that occurred the day before in Trafalgar Square.

Defense Submissions

The defendant, who disputes non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on July 28 last year, could receive up to three months in jail or a potential £2,500 penalty if found guilty.

His lawyer, defense counsel, argued in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who stopped Robinson had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Citing evidence from officers who said they contacted other organizations” after detaining Robinson, Williamson claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been offered from the security service 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 stated that the “predominant influence” on the choice to detain him was recognizing his identity”.

He added that officers had used an “extraordinary power that must be carefully regulated” to try to discover information that was already known. The barrister proposed that his client journeyed to the resort frequently, which ought to have reduced the officers’ suspicions about him.

Expenses and Judgment Date

Robinson stated that his court expenses in the proceedings were being paid for by Elon Musk, the owner of social media and electric car companies, who has appeared as an supporter of the far-right activist and recently spoke at a rally organized by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A suggested day of the following Tuesday for the verdict was altered by the magistrate, the judge, after Williamson said his client was scheduled to be a invitee 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,” said Williamson.

Goozee said he would deliver his verdict on the start of 4 November.