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Legal representatives told the court that police had valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained material relevant to terrorist activities when they stopped him last year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Denial to Give Phone Pin

The right-wing campaigner, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly refused to hand over his phone pin to police, claiming it contained “journalistic material.” This happened after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Prosecution Arguments on Counter-Terrorism Powers

On the final day of the trial, prosecutor Jo Morris argued that the counter-terrorism powers employed by law enforcement are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She claimed that officers had reasonable suspicion to think Robinson continued to have links to right-wing groups, even after the dissolution of the EDL organization.

“Although his membership of the English Defence League has ceased, his beliefs have not gone away. He is recognized for having those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his telephone there could be data relevant to terrorist acts,” she informed the court.

Morris added, His opinions – 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 prohibited activities.”

Circumstances of the Detention

The campaigner had turned up by himself at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a friend and was traveling to the holiday destination of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a small bag, the court heard.

The money was said to have been from a donation drive to cover expenses from organizing a large demonstration that took place the previous day in Trafalgar Square.

Defense Submissions

Robinson, who disputes non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on July 28 last year, could receive up to three months in prison or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in final arguments that counter-terrorism police 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 Robinson, Williamson said this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that lack of proof had been offered from MI5 to suggest his defendant was a terrorist.

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

He noted that police had used an special authority that must be properly policed” to try to find out details that was already known. The barrister proposed that Robinson traveled to the resort regularly, which should have reduced the officers’ concerns about him.

Legal Costs and Verdict Timing

Robinson stated that his court expenses in the proceedings were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an supporter of the far-right activist and lately spoke at a gathering arranged by him in London via a online broadcast.

A suggested day of the following Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after the defense said his client was due to be a guest of the Israel's administration from Wednesday 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 hand down his verdict on the morning of 4 November.