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Prosecutors informed the court that police maintained valid concerns that Tommy Robinson's phone contained material related to acts of terrorism when they detained him in the previous year as he tried to depart from the UK.

Denial to Give Device Password

The far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly declined to provide his phone pin to officers, stating it contained journalist content.” This happened after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Trial Claims on Anti-Terror Powers

On the last day of the trial, state lawyer Jo Morris argued that the counter-terrorism powers used by police are intended to allow intelligence gathering. She asserted that officers had valid grounds to think Robinson still have connections to right-wing groups, even after the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his membership of the English Defence League has come to an end, his beliefs have not disappeared. He is known for having those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his phone 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 subject for their concern on July 28. It was his connection to others who are potentially involved in prohibited activities.”

Details of the Stop

The campaigner had arrived by himself at the Eurotunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a acquaintance and was traveling to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with over £13,000 in a small bag, the trial heard.

The funds was said to have been from a collection to cover expenses from organizing a major rally that occurred the day before in Trafalgar Square.

Defense Submissions

The defendant, who denies failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the encounter on 28 July of the previous year, faces up to 90 days in prison or a possible £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His lawyer, defense counsel, said in final arguments that anti-terror officers who detained Robinson had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Referring to evidence from police who said they called “partner agencies” after detaining him, the defense lawyer claimed this was a reference to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from MI5 to indicate his defendant was a terrorist.

He said the police intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He said that the main factor” on the choice to stop him was recognizing his identity”.

He noted that police had used an special authority that must be carefully regulated” to try to find out information that was previously available. The barrister suggested that Robinson traveled to Benidorm regularly, which ought to have lessened the officers’ concerns about him.

Expenses and Verdict Timing

The activist claimed that his legal costs in the case were being covered by Elon Musk, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an ally of the far-right activist and recently addressed a rally organized by him in the capital via a livestream.

A proposed day of the following Tuesday for the decision was changed by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after Williamson said Robinson was scheduled to be a guest of the Israel's administration from the midweek and would not come back 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 announced he would deliver his ruling on the start of 4 November.