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Prosecutors told the court that police had valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's mobile held information related to acts of terrorism when they detained him last year as he tried to leave the UK.

Refusal to Give Device Pin

The right-wing campaigner, using his real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, reportedly refused to hand over his password to police, stating it included journalist content.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Prosecution Claims on Anti-Terror Powers

On the final day of the proceedings, prosecutor the prosecution stated that the anti-terror authorities used by law enforcement are intended to allow intelligence gathering. She claimed that police had valid grounds to think the defendant continued to have connections to right-wing groups, even following the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his membership of the EDL has ceased, his beliefs have not gone away. He is recognized for holding those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his telephone there may be information pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.

Morris continued, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their concern on July 28. It was his association to others who are possibly involved in illegal actions.”

Details of the Detention

The campaigner had turned up alone at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was traveling to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the court heard.

The funds was said to have been from a donation drive to offset expenses from arranging a major rally that occurred the previous day in Trafalgar Square.

Defense Arguments

Robinson, 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, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who stopped Robinson had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to testimony from police who said they called other organizations” after detaining him, Williamson claimed this was a reference to the security services and that no evidence had been presented from the security service to suggest his defendant was a security threat.

Williamson said the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He said that the main factor” on the choice to stop him was recognizing his identity”.

He added that police had used an special authority that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to discover details that was already known. The barrister proposed that Robinson journeyed to the resort regularly, which ought to have lessened the police concerns about him.

Expenses and Judgment Timing

Robinson stated that his court expenses in the case were being covered by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an ally of the far-right activist and lately addressed a gathering arranged by him in London via a livestream.

A suggested date of next Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after Williamson said Robinson was scheduled to be a invitee 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 Williamson.

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