Anti-migrant and far-right activist Danny Tommo has admitted criminal damage after slashing a migrant dinghy in the English Channel.
The 37-year-old, whose real name is Daniel Thomas, was arrested in September after footage livestreamed online showed him taking a knife to the inflatable when a French coastguard official was on board.
He was subsequently charged with criminal damage, which he initially pleaded not guilty to.
However, on Thursday Thomas changed his plea to the single charge when he appeared via video link from prison at Portsmouth Crown Court, LBC reports.
In footage of the incident, Thomas could 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.”
The maximum sentence if convicted of criminal damage valued at more than £5,000 is 10 years’ imprisonment, according to the Sentencing Council.
However, if the damage is below £5,000 the maximum sentence could be a fine and three months’ jail time.
Thomas had also been charged with failing to disclose the PIN to his phone, under Section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. He reiterated his plea of not guilty to this charge.