Anti-migrant activist 'Danny Tommo' dabs his eyes with tissue as he's refused bail after pleading not guilty to charge of criminal damage for 'slashing dinghy in Channel'

- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas today appeared to wipe away tears after being denied bail having pleaded not guilty to criminal damage over allegations he used a knife to slash a migrant dinghy crossing the Channel to Britain. The 37-year-old, known as Danny Tommo, also pleaded not guilty to failing to disclose the PIN for his Apple iPhone 17 ProMax to police, contrary to Section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The father of four, who was described as a professional roofer, was seen dabbing his eyes with a tissue at one point during the hearing. The court heard he is expecting his fifth child. Thomas appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court via videolink on Friday morning, with Tommy Robinson attending in support of his friend. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had joined supporters following a protest outside a police station in the town the previous evening. He later entered the court and sat in the public gallery, where a police officer was stationed, while another stood at the courtroom door. Outlining the criminal damage allegation, prosecutor Kevin Lucie told the court that Thomas slashed a drifting boat with a knife while a crew member remained on board and the vessel was losing air. Mr Lucie said the defendant instructed that his own boat be steered towards the empty dinghy as it drifted at sea, before arming himself with a knife. He said rescue crews were also approaching the dinghy and a Frenchman had boarded it from a rescue vessel. After slashing the boat, Thomas could allegedly 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 value of the damage was unknown because the vessel had been returned to France, meaning it could not be established whether it exceeded £5,000. After entering his not guilty pleas, Thomas indicated he wanted the case to be heard in the Crown Court but was refused bail. The case was adjourned until a hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court on Tuesday, September 29. Daniel 'Tommo' Thomas wipes his eyes as he appeared via video link at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court, Hampshire, charged with criminal damage on a dinghy and failing to disclose the PIN to his phone Tommy Robinson arrives outside Basingstoke Magistrates' Court to support Thomas Thomas has been charged with criminal damage and failing to disclose the PIN to his phone. He pleaded not guilty today and was remanded in custody Thomas is now in custody for slashing a dinghy in the Channel Simon Pentol KC, defending, said: 'This defendant is not charged with an offence of political activism, whether you agree with it or not, that is not the issue. 'He has elected crown court trial over criminal damage simpliciter and nothing more and for not acquiescing to a notice requiring him to provide a PIN number.' He continued: 'I invite this court to bear in mind it's dealing with a 37-year-old man who lives with his long-standing partner and their four children, all aged between 18 and three, his partner is pregnant once again, four months. 'She is a full-time mother, he is the full-time provider or bread-winner as they used to say. 'He is a professional roofer by trade, he is therefore having to look after his family who, through his political activism, have been under huge threat and due to publication of his mother's home address, she has had to move home.' A dozen journalists were in the courtroom for the hearing. Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram, the deputy chief magistrate, said: 'I am going to send this case to the crown court at Portsmouth and the next hearing date will be September 29. 'I am satisfied there is a real possibility of an immediate custodial sentence in this case.' Last night hundreds of his followers marched on the police station where he is understood to be locked up after his arrest. Thomas had reportedly journeyed out to sea on Tuesday as it emerged that a boat containing 51 migrants was attempting to cross the English Channel. The group was later brought into Dover by the coast guard after 38 hours at sea. News of the charges broke while 250 members of Thomas's group – Patriot Platform – were massed outside the Police Investigation Centre in Basingstoke, Hampshire, where they arrived around 6.30pm. They were applauded by the 50 or so protesters who had already gathered on the road, while members of the group began chanting 'free DT' and 'Oh Danny Danny'. Several police vans were parked outside the station where officers filmed protesters, a few of whom were sporting balaclavas and carrying St George and Union flags. As soon as the group arrived outside the police station, a spokesman urged the group to remove all face coverings – as a police drone kept watch overhead. Just after 8pm, the protesters paused for prayer relayed via a loudspeaker. The crowd then broke into a rendition of 'We want our Danny back', before some members aimed laser pens at the police station. The road was blocked by the crowd, though it parted briefly several times to allow traffic through. One motorist driving a white Chevrolet draped with a large Scotland flag beeped his horn in support and drew loud cheers. Protesters began to disperse peacefully at around 9.30pm. Around 250 followers of Danny Tommo gathered outside the Police Investigation Centre in Basingstoke on Thursday evening The group gathered in answer to calls from a masked member of Patriot Platform – the organisers of the anti-migrant protests in Dover and Portsmouth – who urged followers to converge on Basingstoke Police Station in a social media post. Fellow Right-wing firebrand Robinson also called on supporters to travel to the Hampshire town via his X account – though said he could not himself attend because he was up north. Thomas livestreamed part of his arrest on Wednesday night from a BP garage in an undisclosed location, and footage was later reposted showing him asking to 'say goodbye to my kids'. An officer then told Thomas to 'step out of the car' and explained the arrest, while a woman off-camera was heard saying: 'The cameras are on, let go of the phone.' After the video of Thomas emerged on Tuesday, hundreds of activists gathered in Gosport, where the migrants were initially expected to arrive. Coaches called in to transport the migrants were moved under police escort down the coast to Dover, where the group of 51 were eventually brought ashore at around half past midnight on Wednesday morning. - A man was arrested on suspicion for carrying a knife at the protest. He will appear in Basingstoke Magistrates' Court today, September 25.