Daniel Thomas denies criminal damage and failing to disclose his phone PIN; provisional trial date set for March 1, 2027
Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, has been remanded in custody at Portsmouth Crown Court after pleading not guilty to allegations of criminal damage involving a boat in the English Channel and failing to disclose his phone PIN. A provisional trial date has been set for March 1, 2027.
Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas, known to his supporters as Danny Tommo, has been remanded in custody ahead of a provisional trial next year over allegations that he slashed a boat in the English Channel.
The 37-year-old appeared by video link from HMP Winchester at Portsmouth Crown Court on Tuesday. He had already pleaded not guilty to criminal damage and denied failing to disclose his phone PIN to police under Section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
Thomas is accused of using a knife to slash a boat that had been used by migrants while it was adrift in the sea on September 22, with a rescue crew member on board. The court heard he allegedly livestreamed himself from the English Channel at about 4.30pm that day and made the comments: “This is what needs to happen” and “This is England, this isn’t France any more”.
Judge James Newton-Price KC declined to grant bail and remanded Thomas in custody. In explaining his decision, he told the court: “I am not concerned with the political issues or motivations in this matter and I put them aside in deciding this matter.”
Thomas clutched a Bible to his face as the decision was made.
His barrister, Simon Pentol KC, had proposed a “package of bail conditions” and described the allegation as “politically charged and fundamentally flawed”. He said Thomas was not charged with widespread public disorder.
A provisional trial date was set for March 1, 2027. The next hearing is due to take place by video link on November 12.
