Officers Thought Stephen Yaxley-Lennon Had Terrorist Data on Mobile Device, Trial Told.
Legal representatives told the court that police had reasonable suspicions that Tommy Robinson's mobile held material related to acts of terrorism when they stopped him last year as he attempted to depart from the UK.
Denial to Provide Phone Pin
The right-wing campaigner, using his legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly refused to hand over his password to officers, stating it included “journalistic material.” This happened after he was stopped at the Channel tunnel on 28 July 2024.
Prosecution Arguments on Anti-Terror Powers
On the last day of the trial, state lawyer the prosecution stated that the anti-terror authorities used by police are intended to allow intelligence gathering. She asserted that police had valid grounds to believe Robinson continued to have links to right-wing groups, even following the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).
“Although his affiliation of the EDL has come to an end, his views have not gone away. He is recognized for holding those views and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his phone there may be information pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she informed the court.
The prosecutor added, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their attention on July 28. It was his association to individuals who are potentially involved in prohibited activities.”
Details of the Stop
The campaigner had turned up by himself at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle belonging to a friend and was traveling to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with over ÂŁ13,000 in a small bag, the trial heard.
The money was said to have been from a collection to cover expenses from arranging a major rally that occurred the previous day in Trafalgar Square.
Defense Arguments
The defendant, who disputes non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on July 28 of the previous year, faces up to three months in jail or a potential ÂŁ2,500 fine if found guilty.
His lawyer, defense counsel, argued in final arguments that counter-terrorism police who stopped Robinson had engaged in a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.
Citing testimony from police who stated they called other organizations” after arresting him, the defense lawyer said this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been offered from the security service to indicate his client was a terrorist.
Williamson said the officers’ action was “discriminatory” 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 recognizing his identity”.
He added that police had used an special authority that must be carefully regulated” to try to discover details that was already known. The barrister proposed that Robinson traveled to the resort regularly, which ought to have lessened the police concerns about him.
Expenses and Verdict Timing
The activist stated that his legal costs in the proceedings were being paid for by Elon Musk, the proprietor of social media and electric car companies, who has appeared as an supporter of the campaigner and lately addressed a gathering arranged by him in the capital via a online broadcast.
A suggested day of next Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after Williamson explained Robinson was scheduled to be a guest of the Israeli government from Wednesday 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.
Goozee announced he would hand down his ruling on the morning of 4 November.
