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Legal representatives told the court that law enforcement had reasonable suspicions indicating Tommy Robinson's phone contained information relevant to terrorist activities when they detained him last year as he attempted to depart from the UK.

Refusal to Provide Device Pin

The right-wing campaigner, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly refused to hand over his phone pin to officers, claiming it included “journalistic material.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on 28 July 2024.

Trial Arguments on Counter-Terrorism Powers

On the final day of the trial, state lawyer the prosecution stated that the counter-terrorism powers employed by law enforcement are designed to permit information collection. She claimed that officers had valid grounds to believe the defendant continued to have connections to right-wing groups, even after the dissolution of the EDL organization.

“Although his membership of the EDL has ceased, his views have not gone away. He is known for having those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe 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 allowed – were not the focus for their attention on 28 July. It was his association to others who are possibly involved in illegal actions.”

Circumstances of the Detention

The campaigner had turned up alone at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was traveling to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with over £13,000 in a small bag, the court was told.

The money was reportedly from a collection to offset expenses from organizing a major rally that occurred the day before in a London landmark.

Legal Team Submissions

Robinson, who denies failing to comply with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on 28 July last year, could receive up to 90 days in jail or a possible £2,500 penalty if convicted.

His barrister, defense counsel, said in closing submissions that counter-terrorism police who stopped Robinson had engaged in a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Citing testimony from police who stated they contacted “partner agencies” after detaining Robinson, Williamson claimed this was a reference to the security services and that no evidence had been presented from MI5 to suggest his defendant was a security threat.

He said the police action was biased” because it was based to a large extent on a protected characteristic.” He said that the main factor” on the decision to stop him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He added that officers had used an “extraordinary power that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to find out details that was already known. Williamson proposed that his client journeyed to the resort regularly, which ought to have reduced the police suspicions about him.

Expenses and Judgment Date

Robinson stated that his legal costs in the proceedings were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the owner of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an ally of the far-right activist and lately spoke at a gathering organized by him in London via a livestream.

A proposed day of next Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the district judge, the judge, after the defense said Robinson was due to be a invitee of the Israel's administration from Wednesday 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,” said the barrister.

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