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Prosecutors informed the court that law enforcement maintained valid concerns indicating Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's phone contained information related to acts of terrorism when they detained him in the previous year as he attempted to depart from the UK.

Denial to Give Phone Password

The far-right activist, using his legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly refused to hand over his phone pin to police, claiming it contained journalist content.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Trial Arguments on Counter-Terrorism Authority

On the final day of the trial, prosecutor the prosecution argued that the anti-terror authorities used by police are designed to allow information collection. She asserted that police had reasonable suspicion to think the defendant still have connections to far-right activists, even after the disbandment of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his affiliation of the English Defence League has come to an end, his beliefs have not gone away. He is recognized for having those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his telephone there may be data relevant to terrorist acts,” she told Westminster magistrates court.

The prosecutor added, “His beliefs – to which he is allowed – were not the focus for their concern on 28 July. It was his association to individuals who are possibly engaged in prohibited activities.”

Circumstances of the Stop

The campaigner had turned up by himself at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was on his way to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with over £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial was told.

The money was said to have been from a collection to offset costs from organizing a major rally that occurred the previous day in a London landmark.

Defense Submissions

The defendant, who denies failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the encounter on 28 July of the previous year, faces up to three months in jail or a possible £2,500 penalty if convicted.

His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in closing submissions that counter-terrorism police who stopped his client had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been illegally held.

Citing testimony from police who stated they called other organizations” after arresting Robinson, the defense lawyer said this was a reference to the security services and that no evidence had been presented from MI5 to suggest his client was a terrorist.

He asserted the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a large extent on a personal attribute.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the decision to detain him was recognizing his identity”.

He added that officers had used an “extraordinary power that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to discover details that was already known. Williamson suggested that Robinson journeyed to Benidorm regularly, which ought to have reduced the officers’ suspicions about him.

Expenses and Verdict Date

The activist stated that his court expenses in the case were being covered by Elon Musk, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an ally of the campaigner and lately spoke at a gathering organized by him in London via a online broadcast.

A proposed day of next Tuesday for the verdict was altered by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after the defense explained his client was scheduled to be a guest of the Israel's administration from Wednesday and would not come back 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 deliver his ruling on the start of 4 November.