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Prosecutors informed the court that police maintained valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone held information related to terrorist activities when they stopped him last year as he attempted to depart from the UK.

Refusal to Provide Device Password

The far-right activist, whose legal name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly refused to hand over his password to officers, claiming it contained “journalistic material.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Channel tunnel on July 28, 2024.

Prosecution Arguments on Anti-Terror Powers

On the last day of the trial, state lawyer Jo Morris argued that the anti-terror authorities employed by police are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She asserted that police had valid grounds to believe the defendant still have links to right-wing groups, even following the disbandment of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his affiliation of the EDL has ceased, his views have not disappeared. He is recognized for holding those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to believe that on his telephone there could be information pertaining to terrorist acts,” she told Westminster magistrates court.

The prosecutor continued, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the subject for their concern on July 28. It was his association to individuals who are potentially involved in illegal actions.”

Circumstances of the Detention

The activist had turned up alone at the Eurotunnel in a silver Bentley owned by a friend and was traveling to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a carry-on, the court heard.

The money was said to have been from a donation drive to cover costs from arranging a major rally that occurred the previous day in Trafalgar Square.

Defense Submissions

Robinson, who denies failing to comply with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on 28 July last year, faces up to 90 days in jail or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His lawyer, defense counsel, argued in final arguments that counter-terrorism police who detained Robinson had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Citing testimony from police who said they called other organizations” after arresting Robinson, the defense lawyer claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been presented from the security service to suggest his defendant was a terrorist.

He said the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a large extent on a personal attribute.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the decision to stop him was recognizing his identity”.

He noted that police had used an “extraordinary power that must be carefully regulated” to try to discover information that was already known. Williamson proposed that Robinson journeyed to the resort regularly, which should have reduced the police concerns about him.

Legal Costs and Judgment Date

The activist claimed that his court expenses in the case were being covered by the tech billionaire, the owner of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an supporter of the campaigner and recently addressed a rally organized by him in London via a online broadcast.

A suggested date of the following Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, the judge, after the defense explained Robinson was scheduled to be a invitee of the Israel's administration from Wednesday and would not return 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,” said Williamson.

The judge announced he would deliver his ruling on the morning of 4 November.