Far-right activist Daniel Thomas, known to his supporters as “Danny Tommo,” was remanded in custody on Friday after being denied bail at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court. The 37-year-old, who appeared via video link, is facing charges of criminal damage and failing to provide a mobile phone PIN to police following an alleged incident in the English Channel.
Thomas, a professional roofer of no fixed address, was supported in court by fellow activist Tommy Robinson. During the proceedings, Thomas was seen dabbing his eyes with a tissue as his legal team argued for his release.
The court heard allegations that Thomas steered his own boat toward an empty vessel in the Channel that was being assisted by the RNLI, Border Force, and the French Coastguard. Prosecutor Kevin Lucie told the court that Thomas, while in the presence of an emergency responder, armed himself with a knife and slashed the boat.
Mr. Lucie alleged that Thomas, while committing the act, shouted: “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.”
The prosecution stated that the exact financial cost of the damage remains unclear, as the boat was returned to France following the incident. Additionally, Thomas is charged under Section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for refusing to disclose the PIN for his iPhone 17 Pro Max after livestreaming his own arrest at a petrol station.
Defense counsel Simon Pentol KC insisted that the case is not about political activism, but rather specific legal charges. He emphasized that Thomas is a father of four—with another child on the way—and serves as the primary breadwinner for his family. Mr. Pentol noted that Thomas’s family has faced significant threats, including the publication of his mother’s home address, which forced her to relocate.
The defense indicated that key issues for the upcoming trial will include the location of the incident, whether it fell under UK jurisdiction, the extent of the damage caused, and whether there was a “lawful excuse” for his actions. Regarding the phone PIN charge, the defense plans to contest whether the notice was served by an “appropriate person.”
Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram refused bail, citing the “real possibility of an immediate custodial sentence.” The case has been committed to Portsmouth Crown Court, with the next hearing scheduled for September 29.
The court appearance follows a period of heightened tension. On Thursday evening, hundreds of protesters gathered outside a police investigation center in Basingstoke, believing Thomas was being held there, requiring a significant police presence to monitor the area.
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