Danny Tommo pleads not guilty to Channel dinghy slashing with Tommy Robinson watching from public gallery

From the Newshound archive · first published 22 September 2026 · last updated 25 September 2026.

Daniel Thomas, 37, known as Danny Tommo, appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court via videolink on Friday and denied criminal damage after a video allegedly showed him slashing a migrant dinghy in the English Channel while a French rescuer was on board. He also pleaded not guilty to failing to disclose his phone PIN to police under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. Thomas, of no fixed address, is to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court on 29 September. Anti-migrant activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, sat in the public gallery as supporters gathered outside the court.

Thomas was arrested after footage appeared to show him stabbing a knife into a dinghy that had carried 51 migrants, with a rescue worker still aboard.

Hundreds of supporters massed outside a Basingstoke police investigation centre on Thursday chanting 'free DT' before dispersing after the charges were announced.

Ash Sarkar sparked fury on Question Time by calling the Channel protests displays of 'thuggish racism' with 'small penis energy'.