Far-right figure Tommy Robinson was acquitted on Tuesday of violating British counterterrorism laws by not providing police with his phone’s passcode during a border stop in July 2024. Robinson, also known as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is a prominent anti-immigration activist in the UK, championing nationalist causes. The incident occurred when Robinson was intercepted by authorities at the Channel Tunnel train terminal in southeast England.
During the trial, prosecutors at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court highlighted that Robinson’s behavior, driving a luxury vehicle, and last-minute trip to Benidorm, Spain, raised suspicions among the officers. Despite being asked to unlock his phone for inspection, Robinson, claiming to be a journalist with sensitive information on the device, declined to provide the passcode.
In delivering the verdict, Judge Sam Goozee criticized the police action, suggesting that Robinson was detained based on his political views, rendering the stop unjust. Following his exoneration, Robinson expressed gratitude to Elon Musk for supporting his legal defense, emphasizing the role of the American entrepreneur in advocating for justice and combating terrorism-related charges against journalists.
Robinson’s critics view him as a divisive far-right agitator with a history of legal infractions, contrasting his self-portrayal as a target of state repression for exposing governmental misconduct. Robinson welcomed the court judgment as validation of his claims, asserting that he was unfairly singled out by counterterrorism authorities due to his ideological stance and profession as a journalist.