Anti-migrant activist Danny Tommo pleads not guilty over alleged dinghy slashing in English Channel
The anti-migrant activist Danny Thomas has pleaded not guilty on two counts after his recent arrest.
Appearing via video link at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court in Hampshire, the 37-year-old, who is known as Danny Tommo, pleaded not guilty to criminal damage after a viral video appeared to show him slashing at a dinghy in the English channel.
Prosecutor Kevin Lucie told the court that Thomas had slashed at the dinghy, which was also carrying an emergency responder, before allegedly saying: "You are on English territory. This is England. This is not France any more."
Fellow far-right activist Stephen Yaxley Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, was in the public gallery while other supporters appeared outside the building calling for him to be freed, despite him not actually being in that building.
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He is also charged with failing to disclose the PIN to his phone.
Thomas pleaded not guilty to both charges and was remanded in custody until his next court appearance at Portsmouth Crown Court on 29 September.
Chris Derrick, from the CPS, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Daniel Thomas following an investigation by Hampshire Constabulary into an incident on Tuesday September 22.
"Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.
"We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendant are active and he has the right to a fair trial."
The 37-year-old previously worked as a bodyguard for Tommy Robinson and has since gone on to found the anti-immigration campaign group Patriot Platform.
Robinson is one of hundreds who called for his release, although much of the crowd in Basingstoke dispersed after the news of his charges was confirmed by police yesterday.
James Moorhouse