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Legal representatives informed the court that police had reasonable suspicions indicating Tommy Robinson's mobile contained information related to acts of terrorism when they stopped him in the previous year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Refusal to Provide Phone Pin

The right-wing campaigner, using his legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly declined to provide his phone pin to police, stating it included “journalistic material.” This happened after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Prosecution Arguments on Counter-Terrorism Authority

On the last day of the proceedings, state lawyer Jo Morris stated that the anti-terror authorities used by law enforcement are intended to permit information collection. She asserted that officers had valid grounds to think the defendant continued to have connections 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 gone away. He is known for having those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his telephone there could be data pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she told the court.

The prosecutor added, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their concern on July 28. It was his association to others who are potentially involved in illegal actions.”

Circumstances of the Detention

The campaigner had turned up alone at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was on his way to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the court heard.

The funds was reportedly from a donation drive to offset costs from organizing a major rally that occurred the previous day in a London landmark.

Defense Submissions

The defendant, who denies non-compliance with anti-terror laws during the incident on 28 July last year, could receive up to three months in jail or a potential £2,500 fine if convicted.

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

Citing testimony from police who stated they called other organizations” after arresting him, Williamson said this was a allusion to the security services and that lack of proof had been offered from MI5 to suggest his client was a terrorist.

Williamson asserted the officers’ action was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the decision to detain him was recognizing his identity”.

He noted that police had used an “extraordinary power that must be properly policed” to try to find out information that was previously available. The barrister proposed that Robinson journeyed to Benidorm regularly, which ought to have lessened the police suspicions about him.

Legal Costs and Judgment Date

Robinson stated that his court expenses in the proceedings were being covered by Elon Musk, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an ally of the campaigner and lately spoke at a rally arranged by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A proposed date of next Tuesday for the verdict was altered by the district judge, the judge, after the defense explained Robinson was due to be a guest of the Israeli government 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 Williamson.

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