Police Believed Stephen Yaxley-Lennon Possessed Terrorism-Related Information on Mobile Device, Trial Told.
Prosecutors informed the court that police maintained valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone held information related to terrorist activities when they detained him in the previous year as he tried to depart from the UK.
Refusal to Provide Phone Pin
The far-right activist, whose legal name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly declined to hand over his phone pin to police, claiming it contained journalist content.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.
Prosecution Claims on Anti-Terror Powers
On the last day of the proceedings, state lawyer Jo Morris argued that the anti-terror authorities employed by police are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She claimed that police had valid grounds to believe the defendant still have links to right-wing groups, even after the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).
While his membership of the English Defence League has come to an end, his beliefs have not gone away. He is recognized for holding those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his phone there could be information relevant to terrorist acts,” she told the court.
The prosecutor added, His opinions – to which he is allowed – were not the subject for their attention on 28 July. It was his association to others who are potentially engaged in prohibited activities.”
Circumstances of the Stop
The campaigner had turned up alone at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a friend and was traveling to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a small bag, the trial was told.
The money was reportedly from a collection to cover expenses from arranging a large demonstration that occurred the day before in Trafalgar Square.
Legal Team Arguments
Robinson, who denies non-compliance with anti-terror laws during the incident on July 28 of the previous year, could receive up to three months in prison or a potential £2,500 penalty if convicted.
His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in closing submissions that counter-terrorism police who detained his client had engaged in a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.
Citing testimony from police who stated they contacted “partner agencies” after arresting him, Williamson claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been presented from MI5 to indicate his client was a terrorist.
Williamson said the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He stated that the main factor” on the decision to stop him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.
He added that officers had used an special authority that needs to be properly policed” to try to discover details that was previously available. The barrister proposed that Robinson journeyed to the resort frequently, which should have lessened the police concerns about him.
Legal Costs and Judgment Timing
Robinson stated that his court expenses in the case were being covered by the tech billionaire, the owner of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an ally of the campaigner and recently spoke at a rally arranged by him in the capital via a livestream.
A proposed date of next Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after the defense explained Robinson was scheduled to be a guest of the Israeli government from Wednesday and would not return 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.
The judge said he would deliver his ruling on the start of 4 November.
