Prosecutors told the court that law enforcement maintained reasonable suspicions that Tommy Robinson's phone contained material relevant to terrorist activities when they detained him in the previous year as he attempted 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 phone pin to police, claiming it contained journalist content.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Channel tunnel on 28 July 2024.
Trial Claims on Counter-Terrorism Powers
On the last day of the proceedings, prosecutor the prosecution stated that the anti-terror authorities employed by police are designed to allow information collection. She asserted that police had reasonable suspicion to believe the defendant still have connections to right-wing groups, even following the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).
“Although his affiliation of the EDL has ceased, his views have not gone away. He is known for having those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his telephone there could be information pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she told the court.
The prosecutor added, His opinions – to which he is allowed – were not the focus for their attention on July 28. It was his association to others who are potentially engaged in illegal actions.”
Circumstances of the Detention
The activist had arrived by himself at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle belonging to a friend and was on his way to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a small bag, the trial heard.
The money was reportedly from a collection to cover costs from organizing a large demonstration that occurred the day before in a London landmark.
Defense Arguments
Robinson, who denies failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the incident on 28 July last year, could receive up to 90 days in prison or a possible £2,500 penalty if convicted.
His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who detained Robinson had engaged in a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.
Referring to evidence from police who stated they contacted other organizations” after detaining Robinson, Williamson claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that lack of proof had been offered from the security service to indicate his defendant was a security threat.
He said the officers’ action was biased” because it was based to a large extent on a personal attribute.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the decision to stop him was recognizing his identity”.
He added that police had used an special authority that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to find out details that was previously available. Williamson proposed that his client journeyed to the resort regularly, which ought to have reduced the officers’ concerns about him.
Legal Costs and Verdict Date
Robinson claimed that his legal costs in the proceedings were being covered by Elon Musk, the owner of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an supporter of the far-right activist and recently addressed a rally organized by him in the capital via a online broadcast.
A proposed date of next Tuesday for the verdict was altered by the magistrate, the judge, after the defense said Robinson was scheduled to be a invitee of the Israel's administration 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,” said the barrister.
The judge said he would hand down his verdict on the start of 4 November.
