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Prosecutors informed the court that law enforcement had reasonable suspicions that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone held material related to terrorist activities when they stopped him in the previous year as he tried to leave the UK.

Denial to Provide Phone Pin

The far-right activist, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, reportedly declined to provide his phone pin to police, claiming it included journalist content.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Channel tunnel on July 28, 2024.

Trial Arguments on Anti-Terror Powers

On the last day of the proceedings, prosecutor Jo Morris stated that the anti-terror authorities employed by law enforcement are designed to allow intelligence gathering. She asserted that police had valid grounds to think the defendant continued to have links to right-wing groups, even following the dissolution of the EDL organization.

While his affiliation of the EDL has ceased, his views have not gone away. He is recognized for holding those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his telephone there could be information relevant to terrorist acts,” she told the court.

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

Details of the Detention

The activist had turned up 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 small bag, the court heard.

The funds was said to have been from a collection to cover expenses from arranging a large demonstration that occurred the day before in Trafalgar Square.

Defense Arguments

Robinson, who disputes failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the encounter on July 28 last year, could receive up to three months in jail or a possible £2,500 penalty if found guilty.

His lawyer, defense counsel, argued in final arguments that counter-terrorism police who detained his client had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Referring to evidence from police who said they contacted “partner agencies” after arresting Robinson, Williamson said this was a allusion to the security services and that lack of proof had been presented from the security service to indicate his defendant was a terrorist.

Williamson said the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He said that the main factor” on the choice to detain him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He added that officers had used an special authority that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to find out information that was already known. Williamson proposed that Robinson traveled to the resort frequently, which ought to have reduced the police suspicions about him.

Expenses and Judgment Timing

Robinson stated that his legal costs in the proceedings were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the owner of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an supporter of the campaigner and recently addressed a rally arranged by him in London via a livestream.

A suggested day of next Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after the defense 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,” said Williamson.

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