Legal representatives told the tribunal that law enforcement maintained valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained information related to terrorist activities when they detained him last year as he tried to depart from the UK.
The far-right activist, whose real name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly declined to provide his password to police, claiming it included journalist content.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.
On the last day of the proceedings, prosecutor Jo Morris argued that the anti-terror authorities employed by police are intended to permit information collection. She asserted that police had reasonable suspicion to think Robinson still have links to far-right activists, even after the dissolution of the EDL organization.
“Although his membership of the EDL has ceased, his views have not gone away. He is recognized for having those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his telephone there could be information relevant to acts of terrorism,” she told Westminster magistrates court.
The prosecutor added, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their attention on July 28. It was his connection to individuals who are possibly engaged in prohibited activities.”
The campaigner had arrived by himself at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a friend and was on his way to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with over £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial was told.
The money was said to have been from a collection to offset costs from organizing a large demonstration that took place the day before in a London landmark.
The defendant, who disputes non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on July 28 of the previous year, faces up to 90 days in jail or a possible £2,500 fine if found guilty.
His lawyer, defense counsel, said in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who stopped his client had engaged in a speculative search” and that he had been illegally held.
Citing evidence from officers who stated they contacted “partner agencies” after detaining Robinson, Williamson said this was a reference to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from MI5 to indicate his client was a security threat.
Williamson asserted the police intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the choice to stop him was recognizing his identity”.
He noted that officers had used an “extraordinary power that must be properly policed” to try to find out information that was previously available. Williamson proposed that Robinson traveled to the resort frequently, which ought to have reduced the officers’ suspicions about him.
Robinson claimed that his court expenses in the case were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the owner of social media and electric car companies, who has appeared as an supporter of the campaigner and lately spoke at a gathering arranged by him in the capital via a online broadcast.
A proposed day of the following Tuesday for the decision was altered by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after Williamson said his client 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 hand down his ruling on the start of 4 November.
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