đ Share this article Officers Thought Stephen Yaxley-Lennon Possessed Terrorist Data on Phone, Trial Told. Prosecutors informed the tribunal that law enforcement had reasonable suspicions indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone held information relevant to acts of terrorism when they stopped him last year as he tried to depart from the UK. Refusal to Give Device Password The right-wing campaigner, whose legal name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly refused to provide his password to officers, claiming it contained journalist content.â This happened after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on 28 July 2024. Prosecution Arguments on Anti-Terror Powers On the last day of the proceedings, prosecutor Jo Morris stated that the anti-terror authorities employed by law enforcement are designed to allow information collection. She asserted that officers had reasonable suspicion to think the defendant still have connections to right-wing groups, even after the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL). While his membership of the EDL has ceased, his beliefs have not disappeared. He is known for holding those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his telephone there could be information relevant to terrorist acts,â she told the court. The prosecutor continued, His opinions â to which he is entitled â were not the focus for their concern on July 28. It was his connection to others who are possibly involved in prohibited activities.â Circumstances of the Detention The activist had turned up alone at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle belonging to a acquaintance and was traveling to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with more than ÂŁ13,000 in a carry-on, the trial was told. The funds was reportedly from a donation drive to offset expenses from organizing a major rally that took place the day before in a London landmark. Defense Submissions The defendant, who disputes failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the encounter on 28 July last year, could receive up to three months in prison or a possible ÂŁ2,500 penalty if convicted. His barrister, defense counsel, said in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who detained Robinson had conducted a speculative searchâ and that he had been unlawfully detained. Referring to testimony from police who stated they called other organizationsâ after arresting Robinson, Williamson claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that lack of proof had been presented from MI5 to suggest his client was a security threat. He said the officersâ action was biasedâ because it was based to a âsignificant degree on a protected characteristic.â He stated that the main factorâ on the decision to stop him was ââoh look, itâs Tommy Robinsonâ. He added that police had used an special authority that must be properly policedâ to try to discover details that was previously available. The barrister suggested that his client traveled to the resort frequently, which should have reduced the officersâ concerns about him. Legal Costs and Verdict Timing The activist claimed that his court expenses in the case were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an ally of the far-right activist and lately spoke at a rally organized by him in London via a livestream. A proposed date of the following Tuesday for the verdict was altered by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after the defense explained Robinson was scheduled to be a invitee of the Israeli government from the midweek and would not return until October 25. {âI wouldnât 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,â stated the barrister. The judge said he would deliver his verdict on the start of 4 November.