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Prosecutors told the court that law enforcement maintained reasonable suspicions indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained material relevant to terrorist activities when they detained him in the previous year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Denial to Provide Device Pin

The far-right activist, using his legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly refused to hand over his password to officers, claiming it included journalist content.” This happened after he was stopped at the Channel tunnel on 28 July 2024.

Prosecution Arguments on Anti-Terror Authority

On the final day of the trial, prosecutor the prosecution stated that the anti-terror authorities employed by law enforcement are intended to permit information collection. She claimed that officers had reasonable suspicion to believe Robinson continued to have links to far-right activists, even after the disbandment of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his affiliation of the EDL has ceased, his views have not disappeared. He is recognized for having those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his telephone there may be information pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she informed the court.

The prosecutor continued, “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 involved in prohibited activities.”

Circumstances of the Detention

The activist had arrived alone at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a friend and was on his way to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a small bag, the trial heard.

The money was said to have been from a collection to cover expenses from arranging a large demonstration that took place the day before in Trafalgar Square.

Legal Team Submissions

The defendant, who disputes failing to comply with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on July 28 of the previous year, faces up to 90 days in prison or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.

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

Referring to testimony from officers who stated they contacted “partner agencies” after arresting him, the defense lawyer said this was a allusion to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from MI5 to suggest his client was a security threat.

Williamson asserted the officers’ intervention was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the decision to detain him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He added that police had used an “extraordinary power that needs to be properly policed” to try to discover information that was already known. Williamson proposed that Robinson traveled to the resort regularly, which should have lessened the officers’ suspicions about him.

Expenses and Verdict Timing

The activist claimed that his court expenses in the proceedings were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of social media and electric car companies, who has emerged as an supporter of the campaigner and recently addressed a gathering organized by him in London via a livestream.

A proposed date of next Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, the judge, after Williamson explained his client was due to be a invitee of the Israel's administration from the midweek 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,” stated the barrister.

The judge said he would hand down his verdict on the start of 4 November.