Tommy Robinson has been found not guilty of a terror offence of failing to provide police with the pin to his mobile phone at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone in July 2024.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was driving a silver Bentley Bentayga SUV to the Spanish tourist hotspot of Benidorm when he was stopped by officers at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how police were suspicious of the 42-year-old’s “vague replies” about what he was doing and demanded access to his iPhone under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act.
District Judge Sam Goozee found Robinson not guilty of failing to comply with the counter-terrorism powers during the incident on July 28 last year.
Robinson had faced a three-week wait for his verdict because he had a pre-planned trip to Israel.
Prosecutor Jo Morris said officers “became concerned” about the activist’s “demeanour” after he drove alone into the police inspection area.
She continued: “He gave short, vague replies and made no eye contact.”
Robinson, who was recognised by police, was led to an interview room and his phone was seized, the court heard.
On the way there, he tried to film a video of himself saying he had been arrested, and was told by officers to “relax”, the trial was told.
Tommy Robinson speaking to reporters outside the London courtroom
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PA
Asked to hand over the phone’s Pin, Robinson replied: “Not a chance bruv … you look like c***s so you ain’t having it. It’s my work, I’m a journalist,” he said, adding that the phone held information about “vulnerable girls.”
“The process by which journalistic material would be protected was explained to him,” Ms Morris said.
The court heard that while being interviewed, Robinson told the officers: “For me it’s a win-win, it’s going to be bad for yous.”
Robinson had more than £13,000 and €1,900 on him when he was stopped and was travelling in a high-value car that was not registered under his name, the trial heard.
He had also booked his tickets to travel on the day, the court was told.
Robinson had faced a three-week wait for his verdict because he had a pre-planned trip to Israel
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PA
Defending Alisdair Williamson KC had said the stop and detention was unlawful because officers had taken a “discriminatory stance” based on their knowledge of Robinson’s political views.
Mr Williamson said the officers’ intervention was discriminatory because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.”
He said the “predominant influence” on Pc Mitchell Thorogood’s decision to stop him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson.'”
Mr Williamson added: “If MI5 didn’t think that Mr Lennon is a terrorist, what did PC Thorogood think he was going to learn by asking him about publicly available information?”
Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, acquitted of charges under the Terrorism Act
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REUTERS
He suggested Robinson travelled to Benidorm regularly, which should have lessened the officer’s suspicions about him.
The lawyer said there was “no evidence that the stop was carried out diligently or expeditiously”, and that it was a “fishing expedition” as there was nothing to link Robinson to terrorism.
Under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, the person who is detained can be held for up to six hours, is legally obliged to answer questions and must provide the password or Pin for electronic devices, or be held to have committed a criminal offence if they refuse.