Daniel Thomas Pleads Not Guilty to 2 Charges Over Channel Dinghy Slashing
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 25
Daniel Thomas Pleads Not Guilty to 2 Charges Over Channel Dinghy Slashing
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 25
Summary
Basingstoke Magistrates' Court heard 37-year-old Daniel Thomas deny criminal damage and refusing to disclose his phone PIN after a livestream appeared to show him slashing a Channel dinghy with a knife.
Prosecutors said the boat was adrift, leaking air and had a crew member on board when Thomas allegedly cut it, telling those aboard: "You are on English territory. This is England."
Thomas was remanded in custody and will next appear at Portsmouth Crown Court on 29 September after electing trial there rather than in the magistrates' court.
Tommy Robinson was in the public gallery, and supporters who had already gathered outside police facilities in Basingstoke this week also turned up at court backing Thomas.