Daniel Thomas refused bail over alleged boat damage

Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas has been refused bail during a crown court hearing over the alleged slashing of a dinghy in the English Channel.

Thomas, known to his supporters as Danny Tommo, appeared via videolink at Portsmouth Crown Court accused of criminal damage after a video appeared to show him slashing at the boat with a knife.

The 37-year-old, whose address was withheld by the court at a previous hearing, is also charged with failing to disclose the PIN to his phone.

He has been remanded in custody, with a provisional trial date set for 1 March.

The defendant, wearing a grey t-shirt and holding a copy of the Bible, did not enter a plea during the hearing but previously pleaded not guilty to both charges at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Thomas is alleged to have used his social media platform to livestream himself from the English Channel at around 16:30 BST on 22 September, broadcasting to a large audience, the court heard.

He is accused of slashing a boat that had been used by migrants, which was adrift in the sea, while a rescue crew member was on board.

He is also alleged to have said "this is what needs to happen" and "this is England, this isn't France any more".

Simon Pentol KC, defending, had proposed a "package of bail conditions" as an alternative to Thomas being remanded in custody and described the allegation against his client as "politically charged and fundamentally flawed".

On his decision to refuse bail, the Judge James Newton-Price KC, said: "I am not concerned with the political issues or motivations in this matter and I put them aside in deciding this matter."

A handful of supporters waited outside the court to hear the outcome of the hearing.