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Legal representatives told the tribunal that law enforcement had valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained material relevant to terrorist activities when they stopped him last year as he tried to depart from the UK.

Denial to Provide Device Password

The far-right activist, using his real name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly declined to provide his phone pin to police, stating it contained journalist content.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Channel tunnel on July 28, 2024.

Trial Arguments on Anti-Terror Authority

On the last day of the trial, state lawyer the prosecution argued that the anti-terror authorities used by police are designed to permit information collection. She asserted that police had reasonable suspicion to think Robinson still have links to far-right activists, even following the disbandment of the EDL organization.

“Although his affiliation of the English Defence League has come to an end, his beliefs have not disappeared. He is known for having those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his phone there may be information relevant to acts of terrorism,” she told the court.

Morris continued, “His beliefs – to which he is allowed – were not the focus for their concern on July 28. It was his association to others who are potentially engaged in illegal actions.”

Circumstances of the Detention

The activist had turned up by himself at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley owned by a acquaintance and was on his way to the holiday destination of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a small bag, the trial was told.

The funds was said to have been from a collection to cover expenses from organizing a major rally that took place the previous day in a London landmark.

Legal Team Submissions

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

His lawyer, defense counsel, said in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who stopped his client had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to testimony from officers who said they contacted other organizations” after arresting Robinson, Williamson said this was a reference to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from the security service to indicate his client was a terrorist.

Williamson asserted the police action was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the choice to stop him was recognizing his identity”.

He added that police had used an “extraordinary power that needs to be properly policed” to try to discover information that was previously available. Williamson suggested that his client traveled to Benidorm frequently, which ought to have reduced the officers’ concerns about him.

Expenses and Verdict Date

Robinson stated that his legal costs in the case were being covered by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an supporter of the far-right activist and recently spoke at a rally arranged by him in the capital via a livestream.

A proposed day of the following Tuesday for the verdict was altered by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after the defense explained his client was scheduled to be a guest of the Israel's administration from the midweek and would not come back 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.

Goozee announced he would hand down his verdict on the morning of 4 November.