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Legal representatives informed the tribunal that law enforcement maintained valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained information relevant to terrorist activities when they stopped him in the previous year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Denial to Provide Device Pin

The far-right activist, whose real name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly refused to hand over his password to police, stating it included “journalistic material.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Channel tunnel on July 28, 2024.

Prosecution Claims on Anti-Terror Powers

On the final day of the trial, state lawyer the prosecution stated that the counter-terrorism powers employed by law enforcement are designed to permit information collection. She asserted that officers had reasonable suspicion to think Robinson continued to have links to far-right activists, even following the dissolution of the EDL organization.

“Although his membership of the English Defence League has come to an end, his views have not gone away. He is known for having those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his telephone there may be data relevant to terrorist acts,” she informed the court.

Morris added, His opinions – to which he is allowed – were not the subject for their attention on 28 July. It was his connection to individuals who are potentially engaged in prohibited activities.”

Circumstances of the Detention

The activist had turned up alone at the Eurotunnel in a silver Bentley owned by a friend and was traveling to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a small bag, the court heard.

The money was reportedly from a donation drive to cover costs from arranging a large demonstration that occurred the previous day in Trafalgar Square.

Defense Arguments

The defendant, who disputes failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the encounter on 28 July of the previous year, faces up to 90 days in prison or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.

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

Citing evidence from officers who said they called “partner agencies” after detaining him, Williamson said this was a reference to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been offered from MI5 to indicate his defendant was a terrorist.

Williamson said the officers’ intervention was biased” because it was based to a large extent on a personal attribute.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the choice to detain him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He noted that police had used an special authority that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to discover information that was already known. The barrister suggested that his client journeyed to Benidorm regularly, which ought to have lessened the police concerns about him.

Legal Costs and Verdict Timing

The activist claimed that his legal costs in the case were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the owner of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an ally of the far-right activist and recently addressed a rally arranged by him in London via a online broadcast.

A suggested date of the following Tuesday for the decision was altered by the magistrate, the judge, after the defense said Robinson was scheduled to be a invitee of the Israeli government from Wednesday 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.

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