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Legal representatives informed the court that law enforcement maintained valid concerns indicating Tommy Robinson's phone contained material relevant to terrorist activities when they detained him in the previous year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Refusal to Provide Phone Password

The far-right activist, using his legal name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly refused to provide his phone pin to officers, claiming it contained journalist content.” This happened after he was stopped at the Channel tunnel on 28 July 2024.

Prosecution Claims on Counter-Terrorism Powers

On the last day of the trial, state lawyer Jo Morris argued that the anti-terror authorities used by police are designed to permit intelligence gathering. She asserted that officers had valid grounds to believe the defendant continued to have connections to far-right activists, even after the disbandment of the EDL organization.

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

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

Circumstances of the Stop

The activist had arrived by himself at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a acquaintance and was on his way to the Spanish resort of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial was told.

The money was reportedly from a collection to offset costs from organizing a large demonstration that took place the day before in Trafalgar Square.

Legal Team Submissions

Robinson, who denies failing to comply with counter-terrorism powers during the incident on 28 July of the previous year, could receive up to three months in jail or a potential £2,500 penalty if convicted.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who stopped Robinson had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Citing testimony from police who said they contacted “partner agencies” after arresting him, Williamson claimed this was a reference to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been presented from MI5 to suggest his defendant was a terrorist.

He said the officers’ action was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the choice 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 discover details that was previously available. Williamson proposed that his client traveled to Benidorm regularly, which should have reduced the police concerns about him.

Legal Costs and Verdict 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 appeared as an supporter of the far-right activist and lately addressed a gathering arranged by him in the capital via a livestream.

A proposed day of next Tuesday for the decision was altered by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after the defense said his client was scheduled 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,” said the barrister.

Goozee announced he would hand down his ruling on the morning of 4 November.