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Legal representatives told the tribunal that law enforcement maintained valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's mobile held information relevant to terrorist activities when they stopped him last year as he attempted to depart from the UK.

Refusal to Provide Device Pin

The right-wing campaigner, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly refused to hand over his phone pin to officers, stating it included journalist content.” This happened after he was intercepted at the Channel tunnel on July 28, 2024.

Prosecution Claims on Anti-Terror Authority

On the last day of the trial, prosecutor the prosecution stated that the counter-terrorism powers employed by law enforcement are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She claimed that officers had valid grounds to think the defendant continued to have connections to far-right activists, even after 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 views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his telephone there may be data relevant to terrorist acts,” she informed Westminster magistrates 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 others who are potentially engaged in prohibited activities.”

Details of the Detention

The campaigner had arrived by himself at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was traveling to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with over £13,000 in a carry-on, the court was told.

The money was said to have been from a donation drive to cover costs from organizing a major rally that took place the previous day in Trafalgar Square.

Defense Submissions

Robinson, who disputes failing to comply with counter-terrorism powers during the incident on 28 July last year, faces up to three months in jail or a potential £2,500 fine if convicted.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who detained his client had engaged in a speculative search” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to testimony from officers who stated they called “partner agencies” after detaining Robinson, Williamson said this was a allusion to the security services and that lack of proof had been offered from the security service to indicate his defendant was a terrorist.

He said the officers’ action was biased” because it was based to a large extent on a protected characteristic.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the decision to detain him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He added that officers had used an “extraordinary power that must be carefully regulated” to try to find out information that was already known. Williamson proposed that Robinson traveled to the resort frequently, which ought to have reduced the officers’ suspicions about him.

Expenses and Verdict Date

The activist stated that his legal costs in the case were being covered by the tech billionaire, the owner of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an supporter of the campaigner and lately addressed a rally arranged by him in the capital via a livestream.

A suggested day of next Tuesday for the decision was changed by the district judge, the judge, after the defense said his client was due to be a invitee of the Israeli government from Wednesday 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,” said the barrister.

The judge said he would deliver his ruling on the morning of 4 November.