Ex-EDL leader was in silver Bentley at the time with wad of cash on him
TOMMY Robinson has been cleared of a terror offence after telling cops “not a chance bruv” when they demanded his mobile pin.
The former EDL leader was in a silver Bentley when he was stopped at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone last July.
Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – had £13,000 on him and 1,900 euros and claimed he was on the way to Benidorm.
When police asked him for the pin to his mobile as they had concerns over his “demeanour”, Robinson replied: “Not a chance bruv… you look like c***s so you ain’t having it.”
He claimed the phone had “journalistic material” on it and there was information about “vulnerable girls”, Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told.
Robinson, 42, has now been cleared by a judge of an offence under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Delivering the verdict today, District Judge Sam Goozee said the stop by counter-terror police was unlawful.
He added: “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 also said that PC Mitchell Thorogood’s decision to stop Robinson was based on a “protected characteristic”, adding: “I cannot convict you.”
There were cheers in the public gallery and Robinson left the dock with his hands in his hoodie pocket.
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 suspect is legally obliged to answer questions and must provide the password or pin for electronic devices.
If they refuse, they can be charged with terror offences.
The court heard that officers “became concerned” about the activist’s “demeanour” after he drove alone into the police inspection area.
Prosecutor Jo Morris said: “He gave short, vague replies and made no eye contact.”
On his way to an interview room, Robinson tried to film a video of himself saying he had been arrested, and was told by officers to “relax”.
He then branded the officers “c***s” and added: “It’s my work, I’m a journalist”.
Robinson later told the officers: “For me it’s a win win, it’s going to be bad for yous”.
The court heard the campaigner had more than £13,000 and 1,900 euros on him when he was stopped and was travelling in a high-value car that was not registered under his name.
He had also booked his tickets to travel on the day, it was said.
Robinson’s lawyer Alisdair Williamson KC said the stop and detention was unlawful because officers had taken a “discriminatory stance” based on their knowledge of his views.
He said the “predominant influence” on the 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?”
But Ms Morris said the officer had concerns about 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.
Robinson previously claimed in a video posted on X that billionaire Elon Musk had “picked up the legal bill” for “this absolute state persecution”.
