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Daniel Thomas pleads guilty to criminal damage over slashed Channel inflatable boat

He has pleaded not guilty to a separate phone-passcode charge and remains in custody ahead of sentencing.

Published Nov 12, 2026 · 16:17 UTC2 reports

The short version

Daniel Thomas pleaded guilty in Portsmouth Crown Court to criminal damage for slashing an inflatable boat.[Associated Press · ABC News]
Social media video of the Sept. 22 incident showed the boat had no migrants aboard but was occupied by a French rescue services member.[Associated Press · ABC News]
Thomas pleaded not guilty to failing to provide police with his phone passcode and remains in custody.[Associated Press · ABC News]
Sentencing is set for Nov. 18, when Thomas faces a possible prison term.[Associated Press · ABC News]

Daniel Thomas, 37, pleaded guilty in Portsmouth Crown Court to criminal damage for slashing a migrant dinghy on September 22.[Associated Press · ABC News]
Social media video of the Sept. 22 incident showed Thomas using a knife on an inflatable boat that had no migrants aboard but was occupied by a French rescue services member.[ABC News]
Thomas pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to provide police with the passcode of his phone.[Associated Press · ABC News]
Thomas remains in custody and faces a possible prison term when sentenced on November 18.[Associated Press · ABC News]

No sentence has been imposed, so the possible prison term remains unresolved until the November 18 sentencing.[Associated Press · ABC News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.