Far-right activist Daniel Thomas, 37, known to his followers as Danny Tommo, has pleaded guilty to criminal damage after slashing a migrant boat with a knife in the English Channel. He changed his plea at Portsmouth Crown Court, appearing by video link from prison.

According to prosecutor Kevin Lucie, Thomas was live-streaming himself aboard a boat in the Channel on Tuesday, September 22, when he ordered it steered towards an empty rigid inflatable boat that was adrift. Rescue crews from the RNLI, Border Force and the French Coastguard were approaching the dinghy, and a Frenchman had boarded from a rescue vessel. Thomas armed himself with a knife and, after slashing the boat, could be heard saying: "This is what needs to happen to everyone in these boats" and "This is England, this is not France anymore. Take them back." Lucie told the court the boat was heard leaking air while the rescue worker was on board.S1S2

Thomas, a father of four and leader of the Patriot Platform, was later arrested at a BP petrol station and taken into custody. At the hearing he reiterated his not guilty plea to a separate charge of failing to disclose the PIN to his phone to police, under Section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. Campaigner Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, watched the earlier plea hearing from the public gallery.S1S2

Under Sentencing Council guidance, criminal damage valued above £5,000 carries a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment, while damage valued below that threshold carries a maximum of a fine and three months' jail time. Thomas will receive credit for his guilty plea. Judge James Newton-Price KC has set sentencing for November 18.S2