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Prosecutors told the tribunal that law enforcement maintained valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's mobile contained material relevant to terrorist activities when they detained him last year as he attempted to depart from the UK.

Denial to Give Phone Password

The right-wing campaigner, whose legal name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly refused to provide his password to officers, stating it contained journalist content.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Channel tunnel on July 28, 2024.

Trial Claims on Counter-Terrorism Powers

On the last day of the proceedings, prosecutor Jo Morris argued that the counter-terrorism powers used by police are intended to allow information collection. She claimed that police had reasonable suspicion to believe Robinson still have connections to right-wing groups, even after the disbandment of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his membership of the EDL has ceased, his beliefs have not gone away. He is recognized for holding those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his telephone there may be information relevant to terrorist acts,” she told Westminster magistrates court.

Morris added, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the subject for their concern on 28 July. It was his connection to individuals who are possibly involved in illegal actions.”

Circumstances of the Stop

The campaigner had arrived by himself at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle belonging to a friend and was traveling to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with more than £13,000 in a small bag, the trial heard.

The funds was reportedly from a donation drive to offset costs from organizing a major rally that took place the day before in a London landmark.

Legal Team Submissions

The defendant, who denies failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the encounter on July 28 last year, faces up to 90 days in jail or a possible £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in final arguments that anti-terror officers who stopped Robinson had engaged in a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Citing evidence from officers who said they called “partner agencies” after arresting Robinson, Williamson said this was a allusion to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from the security service to suggest his client was a security threat.

He said the police intervention was biased” because it was based to a large extent on a protected characteristic.” He said that the main factor” on the choice to detain him was recognizing his identity”.

He noted that officers had used an special authority that must be carefully regulated” to try to discover information that was previously available. Williamson proposed that Robinson traveled to Benidorm regularly, which ought to have lessened the officers’ concerns about him.

Expenses and Judgment Timing

The activist claimed that his court expenses in the proceedings were being covered by Elon Musk, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an supporter of the far-right activist and recently addressed a rally arranged by him in London via a livestream.

A suggested day of the following Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after the defense explained Robinson was due to be a invitee of the Israel's administration from the midweek and would not come back 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 the barrister.

Goozee announced he would hand down his ruling on the start of 4 November.