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Prosecutors told the court that police had valid concerns indicating Tommy Robinson's phone contained information relevant to acts of terrorism when they stopped him last year as he tried to leave the UK.

Refusal to Provide Phone Password

The right-wing campaigner, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly refused to hand over his phone pin to officers, claiming 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 proceedings, state lawyer the prosecution argued that the anti-terror authorities used by police are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She claimed that officers had valid grounds to believe the defendant continued to have links to right-wing groups, even after the dissolution of the EDL organization.

While his affiliation of the English Defence League has come to an end, his beliefs have not disappeared. He is known for holding those views and therefore it is a valid concern to believe that on his phone there may be data pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she informed the court.

Morris continued, “His beliefs – to which he is allowed – were not the focus for their attention on July 28. It was his association to individuals who are potentially engaged in prohibited activities.”

Details of the Stop

The activist had turned up alone at the Eurotunnel in a silver Bentley owned by a acquaintance and was on his way to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial was told.

The funds was said to have been from a collection to cover expenses from organizing a major rally that took place the previous day in a London landmark.

Defense Submissions

The defendant, who denies non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the incident on July 28 last year, could receive up to 90 days in jail or a potential £2,500 penalty if convicted.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in closing submissions that counter-terrorism police who detained Robinson had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Citing evidence from officers who stated they contacted 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 suggest his defendant was a security threat.

Williamson said the officers’ intervention was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He said that the main factor” on the choice to stop him was recognizing his identity”.

He noted that officers had used an special authority that must be carefully regulated” to try to discover details that was already known. Williamson suggested that his client traveled to Benidorm regularly, which ought to have reduced the officers’ concerns about him.

Legal Costs and Verdict Timing

The activist claimed that his court expenses in the case were being paid for by Elon Musk, the owner of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an ally of the far-right activist and recently addressed a rally organized by him in the capital via a livestream.

A proposed date of the following Tuesday for the decision was altered by the magistrate, the judge, after the defense said Robinson was due to be a guest 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 announced he would deliver his ruling on the morning of 4 November.