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Prosecutors told the court that law enforcement maintained reasonable suspicions that Tommy Robinson's mobile contained information relevant to acts of terrorism when they detained him in the previous year as he tried to leave the UK.

Denial to Provide Device Password

The far-right activist, using his legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, reportedly declined to provide his phone pin to police, claiming it contained “journalistic material.” This happened after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Trial Arguments on Anti-Terror Powers

On the last day of the proceedings, prosecutor Jo Morris argued that the counter-terrorism powers used by law enforcement are designed to allow intelligence gathering. She asserted that police had valid grounds to think the defendant continued to have connections to right-wing groups, even after the disbandment of the EDL organization.

“Although his affiliation of the English Defence League has come to an end, his beliefs have not gone away. He is known for holding those views and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his phone there could be information pertaining to terrorist acts,” she told the court.

Morris added, “His beliefs – to which he is allowed – were not the focus for their attention on 28 July. It was his association to others who are potentially engaged in illegal actions.”

Details of the Detention

The activist had turned up alone at the Eurotunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a friend and was on his way to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a small bag, the trial was told.

The money was reportedly from a donation drive to cover costs from arranging a major rally that occurred the day before in Trafalgar Square.

Legal Team Arguments

The defendant, who denies failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the encounter on July 28 of the previous year, could receive up to three months in jail or a possible £2,500 penalty if convicted.

His lawyer, defense counsel, argued in closing submissions that counter-terrorism police who stopped his client had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been illegally held.

Citing testimony from officers who stated they contacted other organizations” after arresting him, the defense lawyer claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that lack of proof had been presented from the security service to indicate his defendant was a security threat.

He asserted the police intervention was biased” because it was based to a large extent on a personal attribute.” He stated that the main factor” on the choice to stop him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He noted that police had used an special authority that must be carefully regulated” to try to discover details that was already known. Williamson suggested that his client journeyed to Benidorm regularly, which should have lessened the police suspicions about him.

Legal Costs and Verdict Timing

Robinson claimed that his legal costs in the proceedings were being covered by the tech billionaire, the owner of social media and electric car companies, who has appeared as an ally of the far-right activist and recently addressed a gathering organized by him in London via a livestream.

A suggested day of the following Tuesday for the verdict was altered by the district judge, the judge, after Williamson explained Robinson was due to be a guest of the Israel's administration from the midweek and would not come back 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 Williamson.

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