Anti-migrant activist admits slashing boat with a knife in English Channel

Thursday, 12 November 2026 at 11:21

An anti-immigration activist has pleaded guilty to criminal damage after using a knife to slash a migrant boat in the English Channel.

Daniel Thomas, founder of Patriot Platform, admitted the charge at Portsmouth Crown Court on Thursday.

But he pleaded not guilty to a separate offence of failing to disclose his phone's pin to police.

The 37-year-old, known as Danny Tommo, was arrested in September over the offence.

A court previously heard how Thomas sailed into the Channel and observed migrants on board a dinghy as they were assisted by a lifeboat team, Border Force agents and the French Coastguard.

Prosecutor Kevin Lucie told Basingstoke Magistrates' Court that the defendant had his boat steered towards the empty dinghy.

Rescue crews were also approaching, the court heard in September, and a Frenchman had boarded the drifting rib.

After slashing the boat, Thomas could be heard saying: "This is what needs to happen to everyone in these boats."

He continued: "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."

Judge James Newton-Price KC set his sentencing for 18 November and remanded him into custody.

Sky News

(c) Sky News 2026: Anti-migrant activist admits slashing boat with a knife in English Channel

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