Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has said that he refused to give police his mobile phone Pin when he was stopped at the entry to the Channel Tunnel because it had “journalist material” on it, a court has heard.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was charged under the Terrorism Act after allegedly failing to comply with the counter-terrorism powers in Folkestone in July 2024.
He is on trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and has pleaded not guilty.
A person who is detained under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act is legally obliged to provide the password or Pin for electronic devices.
If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to three months and/or receive a £2,500 fine.
Robinson’s trial began on Monday and is expected to last two days. He is charged under his real name and is being referred to as Mr Lennon in court.
Before the hearing, the former English Defence League (EDL) leader addressed his X followers in a video taken while en route to court.
He said the social media platform’s billionaire owner Elon Musk – who has previously championed Mr Lennon – had “picked up the legal bill” for the case against him, which Mr Lennon described as “state persecution”. Musk has not publicly confirmed this.
In court, the 42-year-old sat in the dock wearing a navy waistcoat and tie.
PC Mitchell Thorogood, a counter-terrorism officer with Kent Police, told the court that he was on duty policing vehicles travelling to France at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel near Folkestone on 28 July 2024.
He described seeing a silver Bentley, an “unusual car to come through”, with a lone occupant – Mr Lennon.
He said that before he stopped the vehicle he “had a belief that it was Mr Lennon”.
PC Thorogood said he had asked Mr Lennon where he was going, adding that he was “unhappy” with the account Mr Lennon gave.
“He was travelling a far distance with a vehicle that wasn’t his,” PC Thorogood said.
He said Mr Lennon had told him he was going to Benidorm and had not bought a ticket in advance, which the officer said was “unusual”.
He added that Mr Lennon did not make eye contact during the exchange.
PC Thorogood also described detaining Mr Lennon under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act. He said Mr Lennon started filming him, and the officers took away his mobile phone.
“He refused to provide the Pin number, saying there was journalist material in his phone,” PC Thorogood said.
Jo Morris, for the prosecution, said that Mr Lennon had used an expletive at officers, who also found a small bag in the Bentley containing £13,370 and €1,910 (£1,660).
District Judge Sam Goozee said the defendant’s address should not be published, after his barrister Alisdair Williamson KC said there were “credible threats against Mr Lennon’s life”.
The public gallery at the back of court was packed with more than 30 of his supporters, who had queued from early morning. One was wearing a red Mega (Make England Great Again) baseball cap.