Right-wing activist Daniel Thomas was remanded in custody again today ahead of a trial next year over allegations he slashed a migrant boat in the English Channel with an emergency responder on board.
The 37-year-old, known to supporters as Danny Tommo, appeared via videolink at Portsmouth Crown Court wearing a grey T-shirt and holding a copy of the Bible.
The father-of-four previously pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal damage and failing to disclose the Pin for his mobile phone to police, contrary to section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
A provisional trial date was set for March 1, 2027 at today’s hearing – in just over five month’s time. He will next appear in court on November 12.
Thomas was previously seen in court last Thursday on a videolink at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court dabbing his eyes with a tissue, where he was also denied bail.
He has been supported by fellow right-wing protester Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who tweeted today that he was praying for his release.
Judge James Newton-Price KC declined to grant the defendant bail and remanded him in custody.
On his decision to refuse bail, the judge 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.’
Daniel Thomas allegedly using a knife to slash a migrant dinghy in the English Channel
Thomas wipes his eyes during a videolink at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court last Thursday
Simon Pentol KC, defending Thomas, had proposed a ‘package of bail conditions’ as an alternative to his client being remanded in custody.
He said that if the defendant was granted bail ‘he would be in no doubt whatsoever that one foot or thought – if that is what it’s coming to – or gesture or comment out of place would render him liable to be in breach of his bail’.
Mr Pentol added: ‘He is prepared to put himself in that position to be able to return to his family today.’
Judge Newton-Price told the defendant: ‘I have adjourned this case to the next hearing, which will take place on Thursday 12th November. I have set dates for service of evidence.
‘At that hearing on 12th November you will appear by the court videolink system and your counsel, Mr Pentol, I have given permission to appear by videolink as well.
‘I have set a trial date, provisionally at least, for 1st March next year and custody time limits are 25th March.’
During the prior hearing last Thursday, the court heard a crew member was on the boat whilst it was heard leaking air.
Prosecutor Kevin Lucie, outlining the facts of the criminal damage charge, said Thomas had taken a boat into the Channel and observed the migrant occupants of a small boat being assisted by the RNLI, Border Force and the French Coastguard.
Thomas was charged with criminal damage and failing to disclose the PIN to his phone
Police officers and security staff stand outside Portsmouth Crown Court this morning
Mr Lucie said Thomas instructed that his boat be steered towards the empty Rib that was adrift and then armed himself with a knife as rescue crews also approached the dinghy and a Frenchman boarded from a rescue vessel.
He said that after slashing the boat with the knife, Thomas could be heard saying: ‘This is what needs to happen to everyone in these boats. Right, you’re on English territory.
‘This is England, this is not France anymore. Get off the boat, you have time to get off the boat. This is not France. Take them back.’
Mr Lucie said the incident happened to a background of ‘significant disorder’ last week including a protest held in Gosport on Tuesday evening.
He said that the request by police for Thomas to provide the pin to his iPhone 17 Pro Max occurred after he livestreamed his arrest at a BP petrol station.
Thomas chose for his case on both charges to be tried by a jury at the crown court.
Last Thursday evening several hundred people, many wearing black, gathered outside a police investigation centre in Basingstoke believing that Thomas was inside.
Dozens of police officers could be seen monitoring the group outside the investigation centre as the protest continued for several hours.
