Anti-migrant activist 'Danny Tommo' faces trial for 'entering restricted zone at Dover port to film and shout at arriving boats'

Published: 08:30 EDT, 4 November 2026 | Updated: 08:34 EDT, 4 November 2026 Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas is set to face trial next year after he entered a restricted zone at Dover port to film and shout at arriving boats, a court heard.The 37-year-old, known as Danny Tommo, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court via video link from HMP Winchester on Wednesday.He denied entering a restricted harbour area at Western Jet Foil, a short-term holding facility for small boat migrants, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse on March 31.He denies five other charges including using threatening or abusive words or behaviour to cause distress on April 1, and trespassing on Dover Western Docks and the Dunkirk Jetty 'to film and shout at vessels arriving' on April 6, as well as using 'racially abusive words or behaviour' to cause harassment or distress.Thomas previously pleaded guilty to going into a restricted zone at Western Jet Foil in Dover, Kent, on March 31, but this plea was vacated after the court heard that he may have received incorrect advice from his solicitor at the time.He was asked to re-enter his plea and denied the charge.Thomas has pleaded not guilty to entering or remaining in Dover Docks without having lawful business or permission on April 1 and April 6, according to court documents.He remains in custody at HMP Winchester and will return to the same court on November 18 for a review hearing. Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas is set to face trial next year after he entered a restricted zone at Dover port to film and shout at arriving boats, a court heard (pictured speaking to Reform UK home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf) He appeared via video link at Margate Magistrates' Court in Kent and denied the charges (court sketch drawn at a previous hearing in October)Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said: 'Mr Thomas you have now pleaded not guilty to all of the charges which means there needs to be a trial.'Thomas is now due to stand trial at the same court from June 1 to June 3 next year.Another case management hearing will take place on November 18.It comes after Thomas was denied bail in September having pleaded not guilty to criminal damage over allegations he used a knife to slash a migrant dinghy crossing the Channel to Britain. He also pleaded not guilty to failing to disclose the PIN on his phone to police.The father of four, who was described as a professional roofer, was seen dabbing his eyes with a tissue at one point during the hearing. Basingstoke Magistrates' Court heard he is expecting his fifth child. Outlining the criminal damage allegation, prosecutor Kevin Lucie told the court that Thomas slashed a drifting boat with a knife while a crew member remained on board and the vessel was losing air.Mr Lucie said the defendant instructed that his own boat be steered towards the empty dinghy as it drifted at sea, before arming himself with a knife. He said rescue crews were also approaching the dinghy and a Frenchman had boarded it from a rescue vessel.After slashing the boat, Thomas could allegedly be heard saying: 'This is what needs to happen to everyone in these boats. 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.' Thomas had reportedly journeyed out to sea on Tuesday as it emerged that a boat containing 51 migrants was attempting to cross the English Channel.The group was later brought into Dover by the coast guard after 38 hours at sea.