Police Believed Stephen Yaxley-Lennon Possessed Terrorism-Related Information on Phone, Trial Told.

Legal representatives informed the court that police maintained valid concerns that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained material relevant to acts of terrorism when they stopped him in the previous year as he attempted to depart from the UK.

Refusal to Provide Phone Pin

The far-right activist, whose real name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly refused to provide his phone pin to officers, claiming it included journalist content.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Channel tunnel on 28 July 2024.

Prosecution Claims on Counter-Terrorism Authority

On the final day of the proceedings, state lawyer the prosecution stated that the counter-terrorism powers used by law enforcement are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She asserted that police had reasonable suspicion to believe the defendant continued to have links to right-wing groups, even after the disbandment of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his membership of the EDL has ceased, his views have not gone away. He is recognized for holding those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his phone there could be information relevant to acts of terrorism,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.

Morris added, “His beliefs – to which he is allowed – were not the subject for their attention on 28 July. It was his association to individuals who are potentially involved in illegal actions.”

Details of the Stop

The campaigner had arrived by himself at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a acquaintance and was on his way to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the court was told.

The funds was reportedly from a collection to offset expenses from organizing a major rally 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 July 28 of the previous year, faces up to three months in jail or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in closing submissions that counter-terrorism police who stopped Robinson had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to testimony from officers who stated they called other organizations” after detaining him, the defense lawyer said this was a reference to the intelligence agencies and that lack of proof had been offered from MI5 to indicate his defendant was a security threat.

Williamson asserted the police intervention was biased” because it was based to a large extent on a protected characteristic.” He said that the main factor” on the decision to detain him was recognizing his identity”.

He noted that officers had used an “extraordinary power that must be carefully regulated” to try to discover details that was already known. Williamson proposed that his client journeyed to the resort frequently, which ought to have lessened the police concerns about him.

Legal Costs 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 far-right activist and lately spoke at a gathering arranged by him in the capital via a livestream.

A suggested date of the following Tuesday for the verdict was altered by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after the defense said Robinson was due to be a guest of the Israel's administration from Wednesday and would not return 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 Williamson.

The judge said he would deliver his ruling on the morning of 4 November.