Tommy Robinson Found Not Guilty Of Terror Offence After Refusing To Give Police His Phone Password
Tommy Robinson has been cleared of a terror-related charge after refusing to give police access to his phone during a border stop last year. The 42-year-old, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was stopped by officers at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone in July 2024 while driving a silver Bentley Bentayga on his way to Benidorm.
Police said they became “suspicious” of Robinson’s “vague replies” and “demeanour” when they questioned him about his travel plans. Officers demanded access to his iPhone under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which allows police 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”.
During the stop, officers took him to an interview room and seized his phone. As they walked there, Robinson tried to film himself, saying he had been arrested, before police told him to “relax.” Robinson, who officers recognised immediately, refused to hand over the PIN, saying: “Not a chance, bruv.” He argued that the device contained “journalistic material” and information about “vulnerable girls”.
Under the Terrorism Act, refusing to provide access to a phone can be a criminal offence, but after a two-day trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, District Judge Sam Goozee found Robinson not guilty.
The court heard that Robinson had more than £13,000 in cash and €1,900 on him at the time, and that the luxury vehicle he was driving wasn’t registered in his name. He had booked his ticket to travel that same day.
Robinson later posted a video on X (formerly Twitter), claiming Elon Musk had “picked up the legal bill” for what he called “this absolute state persecution.”
His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, said police acted unlawfully and took a “discriminatory stance” because of Robinson’s reputation and political views. He claimed that the “predominant influence” on PC Mitchell Thorogood’s decision to stop him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson’”. He described the stop as a “fishing expedition,” adding that there was “no evidence” linking Robinson to terrorism and that even MI5 had never considered him a threat.
The judge agreed there wasn’t enough evidence to convict him, clearing Robinson of any wrongdoing under counter-terrorism laws.
