Tommy Robinson acquitted after Channel Tunnel Schedule 7 stop

Tommy Robinson, the former English Defence League leader whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was found not guilty on Tuesday of a terror-related offence after refusing to provide police with the PIN for his phone during a border stop at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone last July. District Judge Sam Goozee ruled at Westminster Magistrates Court that the stop was unlawful and that the predominant reason for the intervention was Robinson's political beliefs, not a lawful suspicion of involvement in terrorism.

The charge arose from an incident on 28 July 2024 when officers exercising powers under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act stopped Robinson as he drove a silver Bentley Bentayga to Benidorm. Prosecutors said officers became concerned by what they described as Robinson's short, vague replies and lack of eye contact after he entered the police inspection area. He was taken to an interview room, his phone was seized, and he refused to provide the device PIN, telling officers, "Not a chance bruv you look like cs so you aint having it," court testimony recorded.

Under Schedule 7, police at UK ports may stop and detain people for up to six hours to determine whether they are...