Tommy Robinson cleared of refusing to hand over mobile phone pin under Terrorism Act at Channel Tunnel after unlawful stop by police - cheers from public gallery

RIGHT wing activist Tommy Robinson has been found not guilty of refusing to handover his mobile phone pin to police at the Channel Tunnel a day after he led a huge patriotic demo in London.

Robinson was detained under the Terrorism Act because he turned up at the Channel Tunnel in a silver Bentley and bought his ticket "last minute" at the port a day after leading the demo on July 27 2024.

Today at Westminster Magistrates' Court Robinson, real name Stephen Lennon, was aquitted of failing to provide police with the PIN to his mobile phone by Senior Magistrate Paul Goldspring, who said the stop was unlawful as he felt it was based on his political beliefs, which is discriminatory due to it being a protected characteristic.

Judge Goldspring said the prosecution had been unable to prove teh stop was lawful as police officers, who gave evidence, were unable to recall questions they asked Robinson to ascertain why they believed he may be concerned in terrorism.

There were loud cheers and applause from the public gallery to the verdict.

Police had argued that Robinson, who was recognised by police at the port in Folkestone, Kent, at 9:33am, also made little eye contact and gave "vague answers" to questions from a police officer about his travel,  Westminster Magistrates' Court was told during the trial last month.

Robinson was also found to be in possession of about £13,370 and around 1,910 euros, the court heard.

But, the officer, who took 40 minutes to detain him under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, could only remember one question he asked, which was "where was he going?"

At the trial, the 42-year-old entered the dock smartly dressed in a waistcoat, shirt and tie.

It is alleged that on July 28 2024 at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone, Kent, that Robinson refused to give police the pin number to his mobile phone after he was detained as he tried to leave the country a day after leading a patriotic demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, which about 50,000 people attended.

Police can demand a pin to access phones in certain circumstances under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act if certain grounds are met, including suspicions around their behaviour.

The court heard that Robinson arrived at the port in a silver Bentley and had purchased his ticket there on the day.

PC Mitchell Thoroughgood, a counter-terrorism officer with Kent Police, was on duty on the day and believed he recognised Robinson at the wheel and the sole occupant.

He said he was familiar with the name on the passport, Stephen Lennon, being Robinson's real name.

Mr Thoroughood told the court that the port was sometimes used by terrorists as it is the quickest route into Europe.

He said he was trained to look for signs of suspicious behaviour, including a person not making eye contact, being evasive, and making last minute bookings.

He said officers also checked who the Bentley was registered to and it was not Robinson, although there was no suggestion it was stolen.

He said: "It was an unusual car to come through. I believed it was him. I did recognise the name (on his passport, Stephen Lennon).

"His answers were short and vague and it was a last-minute booking where he was travelling a long distance in a vehicle that wasn't his."

Prosecuting Jo Morris said: "(Robinson) said he was driving the car to Benidorm for two days and leaving the vehicle there before returning home. The officer had doubts about the truth and, given this, with Mr Lennon's notoriety, he decided to examine him under the Schedule of Terroism Act.

"We say the criteria was met under the code regarding Mr Lennon's behaviour that it may be linked to terrorist activity or appearing unusual for the intended destination."

The court heard that at 10:15am PC Thoroughgood placed Robinson under detention.

Robinson recorded a voice note and began to film the officers, before his arms were held back and the phone was removed from him, the court heard.

PC Thoroughood said: "I grabbed his arms from behind and held his arms down and PC stride removed the phone."

Robinson was given a leaflet, explaining why he had to provide the pin to any electronic devices, but he declined a number of times, saying it held "journalistic information" from his work for the independent website Urban Scoob, which was also involved in the day before's event, which exposed failures by police and other authorities into the investigation of Pakistani grooming gangs.

Robinson repeatedly told the officers he would not provide the pin as the phone contained sensitive information from grooming gang victims, whose anonymity he pledged to protect and about corrupt police officers, the court heard.

At one stage, he was told the police had a process for dealing with journalistic material, by having it reviewed by an independent solicitor, but Robinson did not trust this and continued to refuse, it was said.

Robinson agreed to provide biometric information and have a photograph taken, but would not give the pin.

The court was told he said to the officers: "Not a chance bruv. It has journalistic material and ongoing cases and information from my solicitor. You look like c**ts, so you ain't having it."

The court heard there were discussions with Robinson about his politics and ideological views and the formation and disbanding of the English Defence League.

Robinson complained that he was being detained under the Terrorism Act "a day after putting 50,000 people in Trafalgar Square" and for the "((grooming gang victims) girls in Telford" who had "put faith in me because they have been failed by the police and the media."

Ms Morris said he said: "I do not trust the police and the girls don't and that is why they talk to me. I would be betraying them because I promised to protect their identities and to protect the information they give me on police, councils and violent Islamic gangs."

He said the £13,000 in his possession was expenses to be offset from the organising of the Urban Scoop event, the court heard.

Defending Robinson, Alisdair Williamson KC, said he would be asking the court to explore if the detention and examination of Robinson on the day was lawful, proportionate and made in good faith, or if it was discriminatory due to his political beliefs.

Also, whether his rights as a journalist were protected.

Cross examining PC Thoroughgood, he said: "Are you aware these powers can be contrary to democratic values and people's  freedoms?

"They can be used to discriminate due to political beliefs. The previous day there had been a large scale assembly of people, some 50K in Trafalgar Square, which had been frontpage news that evening and morning. So you were very aware of who he was."

Mr Williamson said PC Thoroughgood had taken just 34 seconds to decide to detain him after asking just one question.

PC Thoroughgood replied that he could not recall the exact questions.

Mr Williamson replied: "It was unfortunate that you did not take notes at the time."

Mr Williamson argued the decision to stop Robinson was unlawful as there were no grounds for him to be detained under the act and the officers had just done so due to not liking his political beliefs.

Police who gave evidence said they could not be sure or not remember much of the circumstances around the detention, with PC Thoroughgood being asked to make a third statement several weeks after the event.

Robinson's address was been withheld by the court after District Judge Sam Goozee heard he has received ten "Osman Warnings" from the police that his life could be in danger.

You can read the full verdict here.