Police Suspected Stephen Yaxley-Lennon Had Terrorist Information on Phone, Trial Told.

Prosecutors told the court that police maintained valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone held information relevant to terrorist activities when they stopped him in the previous year as he tried to depart from the UK.

Refusal to Give Device Pin

The right-wing campaigner, using his real name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly refused to provide his password to police, stating it contained “journalistic material.” This happened after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on 28 July 2024.

Trial Claims on Counter-Terrorism Powers

On the final day of the trial, prosecutor the prosecution argued that the counter-terrorism powers employed by law enforcement are intended to allow information collection. She claimed that officers had reasonable suspicion to think the defendant still have links to far-right activists, even after the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his affiliation of the EDL has come to an end, his beliefs have not disappeared. He is recognized for having those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his telephone there could be data relevant to acts of terrorism,” she told Westminster magistrates court.

The prosecutor continued, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the subject for their attention on 28 July. It was his association to individuals who are possibly engaged in illegal actions.”

Circumstances of the Stop

The activist had arrived by himself at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle belonging to a acquaintance and was traveling to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the court heard.

The funds was said to have been from a collection to cover costs from arranging a large demonstration that took place the day before in a London landmark.

Defense Submissions

Robinson, who denies non-compliance with anti-terror laws during the incident on 28 July of the previous year, faces up to three months in prison or a potential £2,500 penalty if convicted.

His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in final arguments that anti-terror officers who detained Robinson had engaged in a speculative search” and that he had been illegally held.

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

He asserted the police intervention was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” 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 must be properly policed” to try to discover information that was already known. The barrister proposed that his client traveled to Benidorm frequently, which should have lessened the officers’ suspicions about him.

Legal Costs and Verdict Timing

The activist claimed that his legal costs in the proceedings were being covered by the tech billionaire, the owner of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an supporter of the campaigner and recently spoke at a gathering arranged by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A suggested date of next Tuesday for the decision was changed by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after Williamson said his client was scheduled to be a guest of the Israeli government from Wednesday 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,” stated the barrister.

The judge announced he would hand down his ruling on the morning of 4 November.