Prosecutors informed the court that police had reasonable suspicions that Tommy Robinson's mobile contained information relevant to terrorist activities when they stopped him last year as he attempted to leave the UK.
The far-right activist, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly declined to hand over his phone pin to police, stating it contained journalist content.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.
On the final day of the proceedings, state lawyer the prosecution stated that the anti-terror authorities employed by police are designed to allow information collection. She asserted that officers had valid grounds to believe the defendant still have connections to right-wing groups, even after the disbandment of the EDL organization.
“Although his affiliation of the EDL has come to an end, his beliefs have not disappeared. He is known for holding those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to believe that on his telephone there could be information relevant to acts of terrorism,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.
The prosecutor continued, “His beliefs – to which he is allowed – were not the subject for their attention on 28 July. It was his connection to others who are possibly engaged in illegal actions.”
The activist had turned up alone at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was on his way to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a small bag, the trial heard.
The money was reportedly from a collection to offset expenses from organizing a large demonstration that occurred the day before in a London landmark.
Robinson, who denies non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the incident on 28 July last year, faces up to 90 days in jail or a potential £2,500 penalty if convicted.
His barrister, defense counsel, argued in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who detained Robinson had engaged in a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.
Referring to evidence from officers who said they contacted “partner agencies” after detaining Robinson, the defense lawyer said this was a allusion to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from MI5 to suggest his defendant was a terrorist.
He said the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He said that the main factor” on the decision to detain him was recognizing his identity”.
He added that officers had used an “extraordinary power that must be properly policed” to try to discover details that was previously available. The barrister proposed that Robinson traveled to Benidorm regularly, which ought to have reduced the police suspicions about him.
The activist stated that his court expenses in the case were being paid for by Elon Musk, the owner of social media and electric car companies, who has emerged as an supporter of the campaigner and lately addressed a rally organized by him in the capital via a livestream.
A proposed day of next Tuesday for the decision was changed by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after the defense said his client was scheduled to be a invitee 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 the barrister.
The judge announced he would deliver his verdict on the start of 4 November.
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