Officers Believed Tommy Robinson Had Terrorism-Related Information on Phone, Trial Told.
Legal representatives told the court that police had valid concerns indicating Tommy Robinson's phone contained material related to terrorist activities when they stopped him last year as he tried to leave the UK.
Denial to Give Phone Pin
The far-right activist, using his legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, reportedly declined to provide his phone pin to police, stating it contained journalist content.” This happened after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.
Trial Arguments on Counter-Terrorism Powers
On the final day of the trial, prosecutor Jo Morris stated that the anti-terror authorities employed by police are intended to allow information collection. She asserted that police had valid grounds to believe Robinson still have connections to right-wing groups, even after the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).
“Although his affiliation of the EDL has come to an end, his beliefs have not gone away. He is known for holding those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to believe that on his telephone there could be data relevant to acts of terrorism,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.
Morris continued, His opinions – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their attention on 28 July. It was his connection to others who are possibly involved in illegal actions.”
Circumstances of the Detention
The activist had turned up by himself at the Eurotunnel in a silver Bentley owned by a acquaintance and was traveling to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with more than ÂŁ13,000 in a small bag, the trial was told.
The money was reportedly from a collection to offset costs from arranging a major rally that took place the day before in Trafalgar Square.
Defense Arguments
The defendant, who disputes non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on 28 July of the previous year, faces up to 90 days in jail or a possible ÂŁ2,500 penalty if found guilty.
His barrister, defense counsel, said in final arguments that anti-terror officers who stopped his client had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.
Referring to testimony from officers who said they called “partner agencies” after arresting him, Williamson claimed this was a reference to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from MI5 to suggest his client was a terrorist.
Williamson asserted the officers’ intervention was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the choice to stop him was recognizing his identity”.
He added that officers had used an special authority that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to discover information that was previously available. Williamson proposed that his client journeyed to Benidorm regularly, which should have lessened the officers’ suspicions about him.
Legal Costs and Verdict Date
Robinson stated that his court expenses in the proceedings were being covered by Elon Musk, the owner of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an supporter of the far-right activist and recently spoke at a gathering arranged by him in London via a online broadcast.
A proposed date of the following Tuesday for the decision was changed by the district judge, the judge, after Williamson explained his client was due to be a guest of the Israel's administration 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,” said Williamson.
Goozee announced he would hand down his verdict on the morning of 4 November.
