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Prosecutors told the tribunal that law enforcement maintained reasonable suspicions indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's mobile held information relevant to terrorist activities when they stopped him last year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Denial to Provide Phone Pin

The far-right activist, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, reportedly declined to provide his phone pin to officers, claiming it contained “journalistic material.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Channel tunnel on July 28, 2024.

Trial Claims on Counter-Terrorism Powers

On the final day of the trial, state lawyer the prosecution stated that the anti-terror authorities employed by police are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She asserted that police had valid grounds to believe Robinson continued to have connections to right-wing groups, even after the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).

“Although his membership of the English Defence League has come to an end, his views have not disappeared. He is recognized for having those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his telephone there could be data pertaining to terrorist acts,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.

Morris added, His opinions – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their concern on 28 July. It was his association to individuals who are potentially engaged in prohibited activities.”

Circumstances of the Detention

The activist had arrived alone at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle belonging to a friend and was traveling to the holiday destination of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a small bag, the court heard.

The funds was reportedly from a collection to offset costs from organizing a large demonstration that occurred the day before in Trafalgar Square.

Legal Team Submissions

Robinson, who denies failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the incident on 28 July last year, faces up to three months in jail or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in final arguments that counter-terrorism police who detained his client had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to testimony from police who stated they called “partner agencies” after arresting Robinson, Williamson said this was a reference to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been offered from MI5 to indicate his client was a security threat.

He said the police intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the decision to detain him was recognizing his identity”.

He noted that officers had used an special authority that must be carefully regulated” to try to discover details that was already known. The barrister suggested that his client traveled to Benidorm regularly, which should have lessened the officers’ concerns about him.

Expenses and Verdict Date

Robinson stated that his legal costs in the case were being covered by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of social media and electric car companies, who has emerged as an supporter of the campaigner and lately addressed a gathering arranged by him in the capital via a livestream.

A proposed date of the following Tuesday for the decision was altered by the magistrate, the judge, after Williamson explained Robinson was due to be a guest 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,” stated Williamson.

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