UK court clears far-right figure Tommy Robinson of terror-related offence

British far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been found not guilty of a terror-related offence after refusing to give police his mobile phone pin code during a border stop.

The former leader of the far-right English Defence League, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was stopped by police in July 2024 at the Channel Tunnel in southeast England while driving to Benidorm, Spain.

Robinson was detained under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which allows police to question 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."

An officer was suspicious of Robinson because of his behaviour, the expensive car he was driving, a friend's silver Bentley Bentayga SUV, and the fact he had only bought a ticket to travel on that day, prosecutors previously told Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Police asked the 42-year-old for the pin for his iPhone, but he refused because he said it contained "journalistic material."

In his verdict on Tuesday, Judge Sam Goozee said police had detained Robinson based on his political beliefs rather than suspicions of a connection to terrorism and ruled that the stop was unlawful.

"I cannot put out of my mind that it was actually what you stood for and your beliefs that acted as the principal reason for the stop," Goozee told Robinson.

The judge also criticised the police officers involved, stating that they had "no real recollection" of the questions they had asked Robinson during the 40-minute stop.

Following the ruling, Robinson thanked tech billionaire Elon Musk, who he said had covered his legal fees in the case.

"Why has it taken an American businessman to fight for our justice here and our fight against terrorism charges for journalists?" Robinson said outside the court.

He also said that he was pleased the judge had delivered "such a powerful judgement now that says it how it was — I was targeted because of my political beliefs."

One of the most influential far-right figures in Britain, Robinson regularly expresses Islamophobic, racist and derogatory opinions in interviews and on social media.

Musk often shares his posts on X and recently spoke by videolink at an anti-immigration rally organised by Robinson in London.

Robinson has a long history of criminal convictions, with his offences ranging from theft to assault and fraud. In 2024, he was sentenced to 18 months in jail for contempt of court after making false and inciteful statements online about a Syrian refugee.