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Prosecutors informed the tribunal that police had reasonable suspicions indicating Tommy Robinson's phone held material relevant to acts of terrorism when they detained him in the previous year as he tried to depart from the UK.

Refusal to Give Phone Password

The right-wing campaigner, using his real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, reportedly refused to provide his password to officers, stating it contained journalist content.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Channel tunnel on 28 July 2024.

Prosecution Claims on Anti-Terror Powers

On the final day of the proceedings, state lawyer Jo Morris argued that the counter-terrorism powers used by law enforcement are intended to permit information collection. She asserted that police had valid grounds to believe Robinson still have connections to right-wing groups, even following the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his membership of the English Defence League has come to an end, his views have not disappeared. He is recognized for having those views and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his telephone there could be data pertaining to terrorist acts,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.

Morris continued, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their concern on July 28. It was his connection to others who are potentially engaged in illegal actions.”

Circumstances of the Stop

The activist had arrived alone at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle belonging to 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 court heard.

The funds was reportedly from a donation drive to offset expenses from arranging a major rally that took place the previous day in a London landmark.

Defense Arguments

Robinson, who disputes failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the incident on 28 July last year, faces up to 90 days in prison or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in final arguments that counter-terrorism police who stopped Robinson had engaged in a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Citing evidence from officers who said they contacted “partner agencies” after detaining Robinson, Williamson claimed this was a allusion to the security services and that lack of proof had been offered from the security service 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 stated that the main factor” on the choice to detain him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He noted that police had used an special authority that must be carefully regulated” to try to discover information that was already known. The barrister suggested that his client traveled to Benidorm regularly, which should have reduced the police concerns about him.

Expenses and Verdict Date

Robinson claimed that his legal costs in the case were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of social media and electric car companies, who has appeared as an ally of the far-right activist and recently spoke at a gathering arranged by him in London via a livestream.

A suggested date of the following Tuesday for the decision was changed by the magistrate, the judge, after the defense explained Robinson was scheduled to be a guest 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,” stated Williamson.

Goozee said he would deliver his verdict on the start of 4 November.