Tommy Robinson is discovered not responsible of terror offence after ‘refusing to present police entry to telephone’

Tommy Robinson has been found not guilty of the terror offence of failing to provide police with the PIN to his mobile phone. 

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was on his way to Benidorm when he was stopped by officers at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone. 

The 42-year-old was arrested under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act after police became concerned about ‘his demeanour’, Westminster Magistrates Court heard. 

The Act gives police the power to stop anyone passing through a UK port ‘to determine whether they may be involved or concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism’. 

Today, District Judge Sam Goozee cleared Robinson of failing to comply with the counter-terrorism powers during the incident on July 28 last year. 

‘I cannot put out of my mind that it was actually what you stood for and your political beliefs that acted for the principle reason for this stop,’ the judge said.

Speaking to the former English Defence League leader, he said: ‘I cannot convict you,’ as he concluded Pc Mitchell Thorogood’s decision to stop Robinson was based on a ‘protected characteristic’.

The judge also said he found it ‘concerning’ that officers could not recall what they asked Robinson, and that PC Mitchell Thorogood appeared ‘confused about his powers’ under the legislation. 

‘What I find troubling is that PC Thorogood had already identified you,’ the judge added. ‘This gave the impression for an arbitrary stop about who you are and your beliefs. I find PC Thorogood had no recollection of what questions he asked you.

Tommy Robinson speaks to media after being cleared of the terror offence of failing to provide police with the PIN to his mobile phone

Tommy Robinson is pictured arriving at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on today. He has since been found not guilty of the terror offence of failing to provide police with the PIN to his phone

‘Your detention lacked rigour, police never sought representations, and more concerningly police never explored what questions or topics were being examined.

‘It is what you stood for and your beliefs that amounted to a protected characteristic. That is at the forefront of my concern.

He added: ‘Significant cash was found in the search, but I place no weight on that. The stop was not lawful, and I cannot convict you. I find you not guilty.’

Cheers were heard in the public gallery as Robinson left the dock with his hands in his hoodie pocket.  The judge had delayed his ruling last month because the ex-EDL leader had a trip to Israel as a guest of the government. 

As the two-day trial took place last month, Robinson said in a video posted on X that billionaire Elon Musk had ‘picked up the legal bill’ for ‘this absolute state persecution’. 

During the trial, it was heard that Robinson tried to film a video of himself saying he had been arrested on the way to an interview room and was told by officers to ‘relax’. 

And when 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,’ Jo Morris, prosecuting, said. 

He argued the mobile contained ‘journalistic material’, as well as information about ‘vulnerable girls’ and that he would not hand it over.

‘The process by which journalistic material would be protected was explained to him,’ Ms Morris said. 

The 42-year-old was arrested under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act after police became concerned about ‘his demeanour’, Westminster Magistrates Court previously heard

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 was later interviewed by police at 11am, 11.50am, and 12.49pm, but still refused to give them the Pin, the court heard. 

A small bag containing £13,370 and €1,910 was also found in his car after police searched his luggage, the court heard.

The silver Bentley SUV he was travelling in was also not registered under his name, and he had also booked his tickets to travel on the day.

Under the legislation, a person can be detained for up to six hours and is legally obliged to answer questions.

They must also provide the password or PIN for electronic devices, or be held to have committed a criminal offence if they refuse. 

Alisdair Williamson KC, defending, 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?’

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.

Ms Morris said the officer had concerns about Mr Robinson’s ‘notoriety for associating with far-right activists’.

‘It is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his telephone there may be information relevant to acts of terrorism,’ she added.