🔗 Share this article Officers Thought Stephen Yaxley-Lennon Possessed Terrorism-Related Information on Phone, Court Hears. Prosecutors informed the tribunal that police maintained valid concerns that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's mobile contained material related to acts of terrorism when they detained him in the previous year as he tried to depart from the UK. Denial to Provide Phone Pin The right-wing campaigner, using his legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, reportedly refused to hand over his password to officers, claiming it contained journalist content.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024. Prosecution Arguments on Anti-Terror Authority On the final day of the proceedings, prosecutor Jo Morris argued that the anti-terror authorities employed by law enforcement are intended to permit information collection. She claimed that officers had valid grounds to believe Robinson still have links to right-wing groups, even following the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL). “Although his affiliation of the English Defence League has come to an end, his views have not gone away. He is known for having those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his phone there may be data pertaining to terrorist acts,” she informed the court. Morris continued, His opinions – to which he is allowed – were not the focus for their attention on 28 July. It was his connection to individuals who are possibly engaged in prohibited activities.” Details of the Detention The activist had arrived alone at the Eurotunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a friend and was on his way to the holiday destination of Benidorm with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial heard. The funds was said to have been from a donation drive to offset expenses from arranging a major rally that occurred the day before in Trafalgar Square. Defense Arguments Robinson, who denies non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the incident on 28 July last year, could receive up to three months in prison or a possible £2,500 penalty if found guilty. His lawyer, defense counsel, argued in final arguments that anti-terror officers who detained his client had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been unlawfully detained. Citing testimony from officers who stated they contacted other organizations” after detaining Robinson, the defense lawyer claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been presented from the security service to suggest his client was a security threat. He asserted the police intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a large extent on a protected characteristic.” He stated that the main factor” on the decision to detain him was recognizing his identity”. He added that officers had used an special authority that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to find out information that was previously available. Williamson suggested that Robinson traveled to the resort regularly, which should have lessened the officers’ suspicions about him. Expenses and Judgment Timing Robinson claimed that his court expenses in the proceedings were being paid for by Elon Musk, the proprietor of social media and electric car companies, who has emerged as an ally of the far-right activist and lately addressed a gathering arranged by him in London via a livestream. A proposed day of next Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after the defense explained his client was due to be a guest of the Israeli government from Wednesday 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 said he would hand down his verdict on the morning of 4 November.