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Prosecutors told the tribunal that law enforcement had reasonable suspicions indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's mobile held information relevant to terrorist activities when they stopped him in the previous year as he tried to depart from the UK.

Refusal to Provide Phone Password

The far-right activist, whose real name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly declined to provide his password to officers, stating it included journalist content.” This happened after he was intercepted at the Channel tunnel on 28 July 2024.

Trial Claims on Counter-Terrorism Powers

On the final day of the proceedings, state lawyer Jo Morris stated that the anti-terror authorities used by law enforcement are intended to allow information collection. She asserted that police had valid grounds to think Robinson continued to have connections to far-right activists, even after the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his affiliation of the English Defence League has come to an end, his views have not gone away. He is known for holding those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his telephone there could be data 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 concern on 28 July. It was his association to individuals who are possibly engaged in illegal actions.”

Details of the Detention

The activist had arrived by himself at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a acquaintance and was traveling to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial heard.

The funds was said to have been from a collection to offset expenses from arranging a major rally that took place the day before in a London landmark.

Defense Arguments

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

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in final arguments that anti-terror officers who detained Robinson had engaged in a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Referring to testimony from police who stated they called other organizations” after arresting Robinson, Williamson claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that lack of proof had been presented from the security service to indicate his defendant was a security threat.

Williamson asserted the police intervention was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He said that the main factor” on the decision to stop him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He noted that officers had used an “extraordinary power that must be properly policed” to try to discover information that was already known. The barrister suggested that Robinson journeyed to the resort frequently, which should have lessened the police suspicions about him.

Legal Costs and Judgment Timing

The activist stated that his court expenses in the proceedings were being covered by Elon Musk, the owner of social media and electric car companies, who has emerged as an ally of the far-right activist and lately addressed a rally organized by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A proposed date of next Tuesday for the decision was altered by the magistrate, the judge, after the defense explained his client was scheduled to be a invitee of the Israeli government 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,” said Williamson.

Goozee said he would hand down his ruling on the morning of 4 November.