Legal representatives informed the court that law enforcement maintained reasonable suspicions that Tommy Robinson's mobile contained information relevant to acts of terrorism when they stopped him last year as he attempted to leave the UK.
The right-wing campaigner, using his legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly refused to provide his phone pin to officers, claiming it included “journalistic material.” This happened after he was intercepted at the Channel tunnel on July 28, 2024.
On the last day of the proceedings, prosecutor Jo Morris argued that the counter-terrorism powers employed 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 after the disbandment of the English Defence League (EDL).
“Although his membership of the English Defence League has ceased, his beliefs have not disappeared. He is known for having those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his phone there may be data relevant to terrorist acts,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.
Morris continued, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their attention on 28 July. It was his connection to others who are possibly engaged in illegal actions.”
The campaigner had arrived alone at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was on his way to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with over ÂŁ13,000 in a small bag, the trial was told.
The money was reportedly from a donation drive to offset costs from organizing a large demonstration that occurred the previous day in a London landmark.
Robinson, who disputes non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the incident on 28 July of the previous year, could receive up to three months in prison or a possible ÂŁ2,500 fine if convicted.
His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in final arguments that anti-terror officers who stopped Robinson had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been illegally held.
Referring to evidence from officers who stated they contacted “partner agencies” after detaining him, the defense lawyer claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been presented from the security service to indicate his client was a terrorist.
Williamson said the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a large extent on a protected characteristic.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the choice to stop him was recognizing his identity”.
He noted that officers had used an “extraordinary power that must be carefully regulated” to try to find out information that was already known. The barrister proposed that Robinson traveled to Benidorm frequently, which should have lessened the police suspicions about him.
Robinson claimed that his legal costs in the proceedings 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 organized by him in the capital via a livestream.
A proposed day of the following Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, the judge, after the defense said his client was due to be a guest of the Israeli government from the midweek 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.
Goozee announced he would hand down his ruling on the morning of 4 November.
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