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Legal representatives told the tribunal that law enforcement maintained reasonable suspicions that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained material relevant to acts of terrorism when they detained him last year as he tried to depart from the UK.

Denial to Provide Device Password

The far-right activist, whose real name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly refused to hand over his phone pin to officers, claiming it included journalist content.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Eurotunnel on 28 July 2024.

Trial Arguments on Counter-Terrorism Powers

On the final day of the proceedings, state lawyer the prosecution argued that the anti-terror authorities employed by law enforcement are designed to permit information collection. She claimed that police had valid grounds to believe Robinson continued to have links to right-wing groups, even after the disbandment of the English Defence League (EDL).

“Although his membership of the EDL has ceased, his beliefs have not gone away. He is recognized for having those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his phone there may be information relevant to acts of terrorism,” she told the court.

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

Details of the Detention

The activist had turned up by himself at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley owned by a acquaintance and was on his way to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a small bag, the trial was told.

The money was said to have been from a collection to cover costs from arranging a large demonstration that occurred the day before in a London landmark.

Legal Team Arguments

The defendant, who denies non-compliance with anti-terror laws during the incident on July 28 of the previous year, faces up to 90 days in prison or a potential £2,500 penalty if convicted.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in final arguments that anti-terror officers who detained Robinson had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to evidence from police who stated they called other organizations” after detaining Robinson, the defense lawyer claimed this was a reference to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been offered from the security service to suggest his defendant was a security threat.

Williamson asserted the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He said 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 properly policed” to try to discover details that was previously available. The barrister suggested that his client traveled to Benidorm regularly, which should have reduced the officers’ concerns about him.

Legal Costs and Judgment Timing

The activist stated that his legal costs in the proceedings were being covered by Elon Musk, the owner of social media and electric car companies, who has appeared as an supporter of the far-right activist and lately addressed a rally arranged by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A proposed day of the following Tuesday for the decision was changed by the magistrate, the judge, after Williamson said Robinson was due to be a invitee of the Israeli government from the midweek and would not come back 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 deliver his ruling on the morning of 4 November.