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Legal representatives told the tribunal that law enforcement had valid concerns indicating Tommy Robinson's mobile contained material related to acts of terrorism when they detained him last year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Denial to Provide Device Pin

The right-wing campaigner, whose real name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly refused to hand over his password to police, claiming it included journalist content.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Trial Arguments on Anti-Terror Powers

On the final day of the trial, prosecutor Jo Morris stated that the counter-terrorism powers employed by police are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She claimed that officers had reasonable suspicion to believe the defendant continued to have links to right-wing groups, even following the dissolution of the EDL organization.

“Although his affiliation of the English Defence League has ceased, his beliefs have not disappeared. He is recognized for holding those views and therefore it is a valid concern to believe that on his telephone there could be information relevant to acts of terrorism,” she informed the court.

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

Circumstances of the Stop

The campaigner had turned up alone at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was traveling to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with over £13,000 in a small bag, the court heard.

The funds was said to have been from a collection to offset expenses from arranging a large demonstration that occurred the previous day in a London landmark.

Defense Arguments

Robinson, who denies failing to comply with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on 28 July of the previous year, faces up to 90 days in jail or a possible £2,500 penalty if convicted.

His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in final arguments that counter-terrorism police who detained Robinson had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Referring to testimony from police who stated they contacted other organizations” after detaining Robinson, Williamson said this was a reference to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from the security service to indicate his client was a security threat.

Williamson asserted the officers’ intervention was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the choice to stop 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 already known. The barrister suggested that Robinson journeyed to the resort frequently, which should have lessened the police concerns about him.

Legal Costs and Judgment Timing

Robinson stated that his court expenses in the case were being paid for by Elon Musk, the owner of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an ally of the far-right activist and lately spoke at a gathering arranged by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A proposed date of the following Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the magistrate, Sam Goozee, after Williamson 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,” stated Williamson.

Goozee said he would deliver his verdict on the morning of 4 November.