Officers Thought Tommy Robinson Had Terrorism-Related Information on Mobile Device, Court Hears.

Prosecutors told the tribunal that police maintained valid concerns indicating Tommy Robinson's mobile contained material related to terrorist activities when they stopped him last year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Refusal to Give Phone Pin

The right-wing campaigner, using his legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly refused to hand over his password to police, stating it contained journalist content.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Eurotunnel on 28 July 2024.

Prosecution Arguments on Anti-Terror Authority

On the final day of the proceedings, prosecutor the prosecution argued that the counter-terrorism powers employed by law enforcement are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She asserted that officers had reasonable suspicion to believe the defendant continued to have connections to right-wing groups, even after the dissolution of the EDL organization.

While his affiliation of the English Defence League has ceased, his beliefs have not disappeared. He is recognized for holding those views and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his telephone there could be information pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she told the court.

The prosecutor continued, “His beliefs – to which he is allowed – were not the subject for their concern on July 28. It was his association to others who are possibly engaged in prohibited activities.”

Circumstances of the Detention

The campaigner had turned up alone at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a friend and was traveling to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with more than £13,000 in a small bag, the court heard.

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

Defense Arguments

The defendant, who denies non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the incident on July 28 last year, faces up to three months in jail or a possible £2,500 fine if convicted.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in final arguments that anti-terror officers who stopped his client had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to testimony from police who stated they called other organizations” after detaining Robinson, Williamson claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that lack of proof had been presented from the security service to suggest his defendant was a terrorist.

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

He added that police had used an “extraordinary power that must be properly policed” to try to find out details that was already known. The barrister suggested that Robinson journeyed to the resort regularly, which ought to have lessened the police concerns about him.

Expenses and Verdict Date

Robinson claimed that his court expenses in the case were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an ally of the campaigner and lately addressed a rally organized by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A suggested date of next Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the district judge, the judge, after Williamson explained his client was due to be a guest of the Israel's administration 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 Williamson.

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

Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith

A gaming technology analyst with over a decade of experience in slot machine design and industry regulation, passionate about innovation.