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Legal representatives told the tribunal that law enforcement maintained valid concerns that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's mobile held information relevant to terrorist activities when they stopped him in the previous year as he tried to depart from the UK.

Denial to Provide Device Pin

The right-wing campaigner, using his legal name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly refused to hand over his phone pin to officers, claiming it included “journalistic material.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on 28 July 2024.

Prosecution Claims on Anti-Terror Authority

On the last day of the proceedings, prosecutor the prosecution stated that the counter-terrorism powers used by law enforcement are intended to allow intelligence gathering. She claimed that officers had reasonable suspicion to believe the defendant still have links to right-wing groups, even following the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his membership of the EDL has ceased, his views have not disappeared. He is known for having those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his telephone there could be information pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.

Morris continued, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the subject for their concern on July 28. It was his association to individuals who are possibly involved in prohibited activities.”

Circumstances of the Stop

The campaigner had turned up by himself at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was traveling to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial was told.

The money was reportedly from a collection to offset expenses from arranging a large demonstration that took place the previous day in Trafalgar Square.

Defense Submissions

Robinson, who denies failing to comply with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on July 28 last year, faces up to three months in jail or a possible £2,500 penalty if found guilty.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in final arguments that counter-terrorism police who stopped Robinson had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to evidence from officers who said they called other organizations” after detaining him, the defense lawyer said this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been offered from MI5 to suggest his client was a terrorist.

Williamson asserted the officers’ intervention was biased” because it was based to a large extent on a personal attribute.” He stated that the main factor” on the decision to stop him was recognizing his identity”.

He added that officers had used an special authority that needs to be properly policed” to try to find out details that was already known. The barrister proposed that his client traveled to Benidorm regularly, which ought to have reduced the officers’ suspicions about him.

Expenses and Verdict Date

The activist stated that his legal costs in the case were being paid for by Elon Musk, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an ally of the campaigner and lately addressed a gathering organized by him in the capital via a livestream.

A proposed date of the following Tuesday for the decision was altered by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after the defense said his client was due to be a invitee of the Israeli government from the midweek 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,” said the barrister.

Goozee said he would deliver his ruling on the start of 4 November.