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Prosecutors informed the court that law enforcement had reasonable suspicions indicating Tommy Robinson's mobile contained material relevant to terrorist activities when they stopped him in the previous year as he tried to leave the UK.

Refusal to Give Device Password

The right-wing campaigner, whose real name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly refused to provide his phone pin to officers, stating it contained journalist content.” This happened after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Prosecution Arguments on Counter-Terrorism Authority

On the final day of the proceedings, prosecutor Jo Morris argued that the counter-terrorism powers used by law enforcement are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She claimed that police had valid grounds to believe Robinson continued to have connections to far-right activists, even after the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his membership of the EDL has come to an end, his views have not disappeared. He is recognized for holding those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to believe that on his telephone there may be data pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she told Westminster magistrates court.

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

Details of the Stop

The activist had arrived alone at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a acquaintance and was traveling to the holiday destination of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a small bag, the court was told.

The money was reportedly from a donation drive to cover expenses from organizing a major rally that occurred the previous day in Trafalgar Square.

Defense Arguments

Robinson, who disputes non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on July 28 last year, could receive up to 90 days in prison or a possible £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His barrister, defense counsel, said in closing submissions that counter-terrorism police who stopped Robinson had engaged in a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to testimony from officers who said they called other organizations” after detaining Robinson, 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 client was a terrorist.

Williamson said the officers’ action was biased” 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 “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He noted that police had used an special authority that must be properly policed” to try to find out information that was already known. Williamson proposed that Robinson journeyed to the resort regularly, which ought to have lessened the officers’ concerns about him.

Expenses and Verdict Date

Robinson claimed that his court expenses in the proceedings were being covered by the tech billionaire, the owner 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 London via a livestream.

A suggested date of next Tuesday for the decision was changed by the magistrate, the judge, after Williamson said his client was due to be a guest of the Israel's administration 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,” stated the barrister.

The judge announced he would hand down his verdict on the start of 4 November.