Officers Suspected Stephen Yaxley-Lennon Possessed Terrorism-Related Data on Mobile Device, Court Hears.

Legal representatives informed the court that law enforcement maintained reasonable suspicions indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone held material related to acts of terrorism when they stopped him last year as he tried to leave the UK.

Denial to Give Device Password

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

Trial Arguments on Anti-Terror Powers

On the final day of the proceedings, state lawyer Jo Morris argued that the counter-terrorism powers employed by law enforcement are intended to allow intelligence gathering. She asserted that police had valid grounds to believe Robinson still have links to right-wing groups, even following the dissolution of the EDL organization.

While his affiliation of the English Defence League has ceased, his views have not disappeared. He is recognized for holding those views and therefore it is a valid concern to believe that on his telephone there may be data relevant to terrorist acts,” she told Westminster magistrates court.

The prosecutor added, His opinions – to which he is allowed – were not the focus for their attention on 28 July. It was his association to individuals who are potentially engaged in illegal actions.”

Details of the Detention

The campaigner had arrived alone at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a friend and was traveling to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with over £13,000 in a small bag, the trial was told.

The money was said to have been from a collection to cover costs from arranging a large demonstration that took place the previous day in a London landmark.

Legal Team Arguments

The defendant, who disputes failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the incident on July 28 of the previous year, faces up to 90 days in jail or a possible £2,500 fine if convicted.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in final arguments that anti-terror officers who stopped Robinson had engaged in a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Referring to testimony from officers who stated they called “partner agencies” after detaining him, Williamson claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that lack of proof had been offered from the security service to suggest his defendant was a terrorist.

He said the police action was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the decision to detain him was recognizing his identity”.

He added that police had used an special authority that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to find out information that was previously available. The barrister proposed that his client traveled to the resort frequently, which ought to have reduced the officers’ suspicions about him.

Legal Costs and Verdict Date

The activist claimed that his court expenses in the proceedings were being covered by the tech billionaire, the owner of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an ally of the campaigner and lately addressed a rally arranged by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A proposed day of the following Tuesday for the verdict was altered by the district judge, the judge, after Williamson said Robinson was due to be a guest of the Israeli government 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,” stated Williamson.

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