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Prosecutors informed the tribunal that law enforcement maintained valid concerns indicating Tommy Robinson's phone contained material relevant to terrorist activities when they stopped him in the previous year as he tried to leave the UK.

Denial to Give Phone Password

The far-right activist, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly refused to provide his password to officers, stating it contained “journalistic material.” This happened after he was intercepted at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Trial Claims on Counter-Terrorism Powers

On the last day of the proceedings, state lawyer Jo Morris stated that the counter-terrorism powers used by police are intended to allow information collection. She asserted that police had valid grounds to think the defendant continued to have connections to right-wing groups, even following the disbandment of the EDL organization.

“Although his affiliation of the English Defence League 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 telephone there could be information relevant to terrorist acts,” she informed the court.

The prosecutor added, His opinions – to which he is entitled – were not the subject for their concern on 28 July. It was his connection to others who are potentially engaged in illegal actions.”

Details of the Stop

The activist had turned up alone at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle belonging to a acquaintance and was on his way to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with over £13,000 in a small bag, the court was told.

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

Defense Submissions

Robinson, who denies failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the incident on July 28 of the previous year, could receive up to three months in prison or a possible £2,500 penalty if found guilty.

His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in final arguments that anti-terror officers who detained his client had engaged in a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Citing testimony from officers who said they called “partner agencies” after detaining him, the defense lawyer claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that lack of proof had been offered from MI5 to suggest his defendant was a security threat.

He asserted the police intervention was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He stated that the main factor” on the decision 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 previously available. Williamson proposed that Robinson traveled to Benidorm frequently, which ought to have reduced the police suspicions about him.

Legal Costs and Judgment Date

Robinson stated that his court expenses in the case were being paid for by Elon Musk, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an ally of the far-right activist and recently spoke at a gathering organized by him in London via a livestream.

A suggested day of next Tuesday for the decision was changed by the magistrate, the judge, after the defense explained his client was scheduled to be a invitee 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 the barrister.

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