Officers Suspected Stephen Yaxley-Lennon Possessed Terrorist Data on Mobile Device, Court Hears.
Prosecutors informed the tribunal that law enforcement maintained reasonable suspicions that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon's mobile contained material related to terrorist activities when they detained him last year as he attempted to leave the UK.
Denial to Give Device Password
The far-right activist, using his legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, allegedly declined to hand over his password to officers, claiming it included journalist content.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Channel tunnel on 28 July 2024.
Trial Arguments on Counter-Terrorism Authority
On the last day of the trial, prosecutor the prosecution argued that the counter-terrorism powers used by law enforcement are designed to allow intelligence gathering. She claimed that officers had valid grounds to believe the defendant continued to have connections to far-right activists, even after the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).
“Although his membership of the English Defence League has come to an end, his views have not gone away. He is known for having those opinions and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his phone there could be data pertaining to terrorist acts,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.
Morris added, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the subject for their concern on July 28. It was his association to others who are potentially involved in prohibited activities.”
Circumstances of the Detention
The campaigner had turned up alone at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley owned by a friend and was traveling to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with more than ÂŁ13,000 in a carry-on, the trial heard.
The funds was reportedly from a collection to cover expenses from organizing a major rally that took place the day before in Trafalgar Square.
Legal Team Submissions
The defendant, who disputes non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on July 28 last year, faces up to 90 days in jail or a possible ÂŁ2,500 penalty if convicted.
His barrister, defense counsel, argued in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who stopped his client had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been illegally held.
Citing evidence from police who stated they contacted other organizations” after arresting him, the defense lawyer said this was a reference to the intelligence agencies and that lack of proof had been presented from MI5 to indicate his client was a terrorist.
He asserted the police action was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the choice to stop him was recognizing his identity”.
He noted that officers had used an “extraordinary power that needs to be properly policed” to try to find out information that was previously available. Williamson proposed that his client traveled to Benidorm regularly, which should have reduced the police concerns about him.
Expenses and Judgment Timing
Robinson stated that his legal costs in the case were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an ally of the campaigner and recently addressed a rally organized by him in London via a online broadcast.
A proposed day of next Tuesday for the decision was changed by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after Williamson explained Robinson was due to be a guest of the Israeli government 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 said he would deliver his verdict on the start of 4 November.
