Daniel Thomas pleads not guilty after alleged dinghy slashing in Channel

The far-right activist Daniel Thomas has pleaded not guilty to criminal damage after he allegedly slashed a boat in the Channel with an emergency responder on board.

Thomas, 37, of no fixed address, appeared at Basingstoke magistrates court on Friday after being charged on Thursday night. He also denied failing to disclose the pin to his phone to police, under section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Thomas was supported by fellow far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, who arrived at the court on Friday morning and sat in the public gallery.

On Thursday evening several hundred people, many wearing black, gathered outside a police investigation centre in Basingstoke believing that Thomas was inside.

Dozens of police officers could be seen monitoring the group outside the centre as the protest continued for several hours.