Officers Suspected Stephen Yaxley-Lennon Had Terrorism-Related Data on Phone, Court Hears.
Legal representatives told the court that law enforcement had reasonable suspicions indicating Tommy Robinson's phone held material related to terrorist activities when they detained him in the previous year as he attempted to depart from the UK.
Denial to Provide Device Password
The far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly refused to provide his phone pin to police, claiming it contained journalist content.” This happened after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.
Prosecution Claims on Counter-Terrorism Powers
On the final day of the trial, prosecutor the prosecution stated that the anti-terror authorities employed by law enforcement are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She claimed that police had valid grounds to think the defendant continued to have links to right-wing groups, even after the disbandment of the EDL organization.
While his affiliation of the EDL has come to an end, his beliefs have not gone away. He is known for holding those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his telephone there may be data relevant to acts of terrorism,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.
The prosecutor continued, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their concern on 28 July. It was his connection to individuals who are potentially engaged in prohibited activities.”
Details of the Detention
The campaigner had turned up by himself at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was traveling to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial heard.
The funds was reportedly from a collection to offset expenses from arranging a large demonstration that took place the previous day in Trafalgar Square.
Legal Team Arguments
The defendant, who denies failing to comply with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on July 28 of the previous year, could receive up to 90 days in prison or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.
His lawyer, defense counsel, argued in final arguments that anti-terror officers who detained his client had engaged in a “fishing expedition” and that he had been unlawfully detained.
Referring to testimony from police who said they called “partner agencies” after detaining Robinson, the defense lawyer claimed this was a allusion to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from the security service to suggest his defendant was a terrorist.
Williamson said the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a large extent on a protected characteristic.” He stated that the main factor” on the decision to detain him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.
He noted that police had used an special authority that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to discover information that was already known. The barrister suggested that Robinson journeyed to Benidorm frequently, which should have reduced the officers’ suspicions about him.
Legal Costs and Verdict Timing
Robinson claimed that his legal costs in the proceedings were being covered by Elon Musk, the proprietor 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 London via a online broadcast.
A proposed day of the following Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after the defense said Robinson was scheduled to be a guest of the Israeli government from the midweek and would not return 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.
