Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been cleared of a terror offence after refusing to hand over the PIN for his phone when stopped at the Channel Tunnel border in Folkestone. He was travelling to Benidorm in a Bentley Bentayga and was in possession of thousands of pounds in cash, the court heard.

The Westminster Magistrates’ Court examined a stop made under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, which allows police at ports to determine whether someone may be involved in acts of terrorism. Officers detained him after he gave short, vague replies and demanded the phone PIN. District Judge Sam Goozee acquitted him of failing to comply with the powers, saying the stop appeared to be influenced by his political beliefs and that the officers could not recall the questions asked or the powers used.

The case noted that Robinson had more than £13,000 in cash and €1,900 on him, and that his high-value car was not registered in his name. He had booked travel on the day of the stop. His defence argued the intervention was discriminatory based on a protected characteristic, and referenced remarks about Elon Musk funding his defence, with costs reported at nearly £100,000.