Boat bought by criminal anti-migrant activist 'Danny Tommo' to help police the English Channel sinks

A boat bought by the anti-migrant campaigner known as 'Danny Tommo' to help patrol the English Channel sank in an apparent accident, prompting a fresh fundraising drive.Daniel Thomas, 37, is founder of the group Patriot Platform, describing his army of protesters as 'working-class men who are bricklayers, roofers and carpenters who build the house you live in, the roads you drive on'.They have been involved in recent anti-migrant disturbances in Dover in Kent and his home city of Portsmouth earlier this month. Mr Thomas's followers helped pay for a small rigid-hulled inflatable boat that sank within weeks of him first using it.He posted on X about his team having a boat in April, calling it The Patriot.Two months later he launched a crowdfunding appeal to salvage the boat after the sinking that happened in Littlehampton, West Sussex. Speaking on his YouTube channel at the time, Mr Thomas suggested Left-wing activists could be to blame for sabotage.A video was shared with the title: 'EMERGENCY: Left Trying To Seize/Destroy Our Boat – Need To Move It ASAP! #ThePatriot'. Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas's boat called the Patriot is seen here after sinking near Littlehampton Harbour, West Sussex, earlier this yearHe wrote: 'I'm paying £400 myself, just need a little help with the rest if your able to! If you can help in any way, please support us right now. Every contribution gets the boat out and back into action.'This is our boat. Our future. Our resistance.'The Times now reports that the vessel had got into problems due to mechanical issues at the mouth of the river Arun and began to sink in Littlehampton Harbour, where officials had to retrieve it. While Mr Thomas later collected it, the boat's present whereabouts are said to be unknown and it has reportedly not been used by him since. A campaign on the website GiveSendGo, so far generating more than £20,000, shows Mr Thomas promising to use donations for 'new boats and marine equipment for essential water-based operations'.Money would also go towards fuel, accommodation and storage for the group's 'assets', the appeal states.Mr Thomas has previously shared on social media an invoice suggesting he was charged £1,775 by Littlehampton Harbour, including £738 for use of a recovery vessel. He posted a video of the boat on X on August 25 this year accompanied by the message: '"The Patriot" is about to receive a full makeover and will return stronger than ever, ready for the Patriot Platform. The campaigner, known as 'Danny Tommo', has shared online fundraising appeals to help restore the vessel The boat got into problems due mechanical issues at the mouth of the river Arun and began to sink in Littlehampton Harbour, where officials had to retrieve it'Thank you to the lads who are about to make her sea worthy again.'Mr Thomas previously served time in prison after being convicted of kidnapping and is a long-time associate of far-Right campaigner Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.Father-of-four and roofing company director Mr Thomas has a military background, having served as a tank driver with the King's Royal Hussars.But his Army career was cut short, having been discharged on medical grounds before seeing any active service.He has said that his violent past brought him to a turning point and forced him to recast himself as a Christian activist.He was jailed for two years in 2016 after bursting into the home of Graham Page in Hayling Island, Hampshire, along with two accomplices.The three men were armed with knives and shouted 'you're coming with us' before punching the victim, pinning him against a wall and trying to force him from his home.They had wrongly accused Mr Page of stealing £10,000 worth of drugs from them.The Daily Mail has approached Mr Thomas for comment on the latest claims.