By PA News Agency-
Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas – known to his supporters as Danny Tommo – has been remanded into custody as he faces trial next year accused of criminal damage of a boat in the English Channel.
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He had already pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminal damage after he allegedly slashed a boat in the English Channel with an emergency responder on board on September 22.
A provisional trial date was set for March 1 2027 at Tuesday’s hearing.
The court heard it is alleged Thomas used his social media platform to livestream himself from the English Channel at around 4.30pm on September 22, broadcasting to a large audience.
He is accused of slashing a boat that had been used by migrants, adrift in the sea, with a knife when a rescue crew member was on board at the time.
He is also alleged to have said “This is what needs to happen” and “This is England, this isn’t France any more”.
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.”
Thomas clutched the bible to his face as the decision was made.
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.”
Mr Pentol described the allegation against his client as “politically charged and fundamentally flawed”.
He added: “The court is dealing with a man charged with criminal damage simplicita and an offence of failing to comply with a section 49 notice regarding the key to a phone.
“He is not charged and has never been charged with widespread public disorder.”
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.”
A handful of supporters waited outside the court to hear the outcome of the hearing.
Thomas now faces custody awaiting his trial in six months’ time.
The maximum sentence if convicted of criminal damage valued at more than £5,000 is 10 years’ imprisonment, according to the Sentencing Council.
But if the damage is valued lower than £5,000 the maximum sentence could be a fine and three months’ jail time.
At Thomas’s first appearance at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Friday, it was heard the cost of the damage to the vessel was unknown to be above or below £5,000 because the boat had been taken back to France.