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Prosecutors told the tribunal that law enforcement maintained valid concerns indicating Tommy Robinson's phone held information related to terrorist activities when they detained him last year as he tried to leave the UK.

Refusal to Provide Phone Password

The far-right activist, using his legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, reportedly declined to hand over his password to officers, claiming it contained “journalistic material.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Prosecution Arguments on Anti-Terror Powers

On the final day of the proceedings, prosecutor the prosecution argued that the counter-terrorism powers employed by police are designed to permit information collection. She claimed that officers had reasonable suspicion to think the defendant continued to have links to far-right activists, even following the disbandment of the EDL organization.

While his affiliation of the EDL has come to an end, his views have not gone away. He is known for holding those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his phone there could be information relevant to acts of terrorism,” she told Westminster magistrates court.

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

Circumstances of the Stop

The campaigner had arrived alone at the Eurotunnel 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 carry-on, the court heard.

The money was reportedly from a donation drive to offset costs from arranging a large demonstration that took place the previous day in a London landmark.

Legal Team Arguments

Robinson, who denies non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the incident on July 28 last year, faces up to 90 days in jail or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His lawyer, defense counsel, argued in final arguments that anti-terror officers who detained his client had engaged in a speculative search” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to evidence from police who stated they contacted “partner agencies” after detaining him, the defense lawyer said this was a allusion to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from the security service to indicate his client was a terrorist.

He asserted the officers’ intervention was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” 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 find out information that was already known. The barrister suggested that Robinson journeyed to the resort regularly, which should have lessened the officers’ suspicions about him.

Legal Costs and Verdict Timing

Robinson claimed that his legal costs in the proceedings were being paid for by Elon Musk, the owner of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an ally of the campaigner and lately spoke at a gathering arranged by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A suggested date of the following Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after Williamson said his client was scheduled to be a guest of the Israeli government from the midweek and would not return 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,” stated Williamson.

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