Tommy Robinson is today set to learn the verdict in his “terror offence” trial after refusing to give police access to his phone last year.
The activist had been driving to Spain when he was stopped by police at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone, Kent, last July, a court had previously heard.
Police demanded that he give them access to his phone after becoming “suspicious” of his “vague replies” to questions, Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told.
He told the court how he refused to give police the Pin to his phone because it had journalistic material on it.
Mr Robinson, who is being referred to in court as Mr Lennon, was then charged under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act.
Anyone detained under the Act is legally obliged to provide the password or Pin to their phone.
He has pleaded not guilty, but if found otherwise, he could be jailed for up to three months and/or receive a £2,500 fine.
Alisdair Williamson KC, defending, said police’s stop and detention was unlawful because officers had taken a “discriminatory stance” based on their knowledge of his views.
Jo Morris, prosecuting, had said officers became “concerned” about his “demeanour” after he drove into the police inspection area.
“He gave short, vague replies and made no eye contact,” she said, adding that he told police: “Not a chance… you look like c***s so you ain’t having it.”
The court heard how he told police: “It’s my work, I’m a journalist,” adding that the phone held information about “vulnerable girls”.
“The process by which journalistic material would be protected was explained to him,” Ms Morris continued.
Mr Williamson argued that the police intervention was discriminatory because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic”.
He said the “predominant influence” on PC Mitchell Thorogood’s decision to stop him was “oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.
“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?” Mr Williamson added.
Ms Morris said the officer had concerns about Mr 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.
During his two-day trial in October, Mr Robinson said on social media that Elon Musk had “picked up the legal bill” for “this absolute state persecution”.
District Judge Sam Goozee will hand down his verdict on Tuesday.
