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Legal representatives told the court that law enforcement had reasonable suspicions that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained material related to terrorist activities when they detained him in the previous year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Refusal to Give Device Pin

The right-wing campaigner, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, reportedly refused to provide his password to police, claiming it contained “journalistic material.” This happened after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on 28 July 2024.

Prosecution Claims on Counter-Terrorism Authority

On the final day of the proceedings, state lawyer the prosecution stated that the counter-terrorism powers used by law enforcement are designed to permit information collection. She asserted that police had valid grounds to think the defendant still have connections to right-wing groups, even following the dissolution of the EDL organization.

While his affiliation of the English Defence League has come to an end, his views have not gone away. He is recognized for holding those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to believe that on his phone there may be data pertaining to terrorist acts,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.

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

Circumstances of the Detention

The campaigner had turned up by himself at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley owned by a acquaintance and was traveling to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial was told.

The funds was said to have been from a donation drive to offset costs from arranging a large demonstration that occurred the day before in a London landmark.

Defense Submissions

The defendant, who denies non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the incident on July 28 last year, could receive up to three months in jail or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His lawyer, defense counsel, said in final arguments that anti-terror officers who detained Robinson had engaged in a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Citing evidence from police who said they contacted “partner agencies” after arresting Robinson, the defense lawyer claimed this was a reference to the security services and that no evidence had been presented from MI5 to indicate his defendant was a terrorist.

He asserted the police action was “discriminatory” because it was based to a large extent on a protected characteristic.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the choice to detain him was recognizing his identity”.

He added that police had used an special authority that must be carefully regulated” to try to find out details that was previously available. Williamson suggested that Robinson journeyed to Benidorm regularly, which ought to have reduced the officers’ suspicions about him.

Expenses and Judgment Date

Robinson claimed that his legal costs in the proceedings were being covered by the tech billionaire, the owner of social media and electric car companies, who has appeared as an ally of the campaigner and lately spoke at a gathering organized by him in the capital via a livestream.

A proposed date of next Tuesday for the decision was changed by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after Williamson said Robinson was due to be a guest of the Israel's administration from the midweek 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 the barrister.

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