Tommy Robinson has been found not guilty of terrorism charges after he refused to hand over his phone’s PIN in Folkestone last year.
The former English Defence League leader was charged under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 after telling officers he would not hand over his phone’s PIN at the UK border because it had ‘journalistic material’ on it.
Police were suspicious of Robinson’s ‘vague replies’ about what he was doing and demanded access to his iPhone.
Under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, police are allowed 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’.
The far-right activist, who had £13,000 and 1,900 Euros in cash with him, told them he was driving his silver Bentley to Benidorm for a couple of days, the trial heard.
Robinson was facing jail time and a £2,500 fine if found guilty..
Asked to give access to the iPhone, Robinson replied: ‘Not a chance bruv… you look like c*** so you ain’t having it.’
He was surrounded by some of his supporters (Picture: AFP)
He briefly spoke to reporters outside before going in (Picture: PA)
‘It’s my work, I’m a journalist,’ he said, adding that it held information about ‘vulnerable girls’.
As the two-day trial took place last month, the former English Defence League (EDL) leader said in a video posted on X that billionaire Elon Musk had ‘picked up the legal bill’ for ‘absolute state persecution’.
Opening the case, prosecutor Jo Morris said officers ‘became concerned’ about the activist’s demeanour after he drove alone into the police inspection area.
‘He gave short, vague replies and made no eye contact,’ she continued.
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.
‘The process by which journalistic material would be protected was explained to him,’ Morris previously told the court.
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 arrived at Westminster Magistrate’s Court this morning (Picture: Reuters)
Alisdair Williamson KC, defending, had said the stop and detention was unlawful because officers had taken a ‘discriminatory stance’ based on their knowledge of Robinson’s 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?’
