Anti-migrant campaigner Daniel Thomas accuses activists of sabotaging his boat

Anti-migrant campaigner Daniel Thomas, also known as 'Danny Tommo', has accused left-wing activists of sabotaging a boat he purchased to assist in patrolling the English Channel after it sank. Thomas is the founder of the Patriot Platform, a group he describes as consisting of 'working-class men who are bricklayers, roofers and carpenters who build the house you live in, the roads you drive on'. The group was involved in recent anti-migrant disturbances in Dover, Kent, and Portsmouth, where the RNLI station was forced to close. Earlier this year, Thomas's followers funded a small rigid-hulled inflatable boat named The Patriot, intended for patrolling the waters between England and France. However, the vessel sank in Littlehampton, West Sussex, weeks after Thomas announced on social media that his team had access to it. In July, Thomas initiated a crowdfunding campaign to salvage the boat and suggested, without evidence, that it may have been sabotaged. A video on his YouTube channel titled 'EMERGENCY: Left Trying To Seize/Destroy Our Boat – Need To Move It ASAP! #ThePatriot' was posted, where he requested financial support for the recovery efforts. Reports indicate that the boat encountered mechanical issues at the mouth of the river Arun, leading to its sinking. Officials retrieved the vessel, but its current status is unknown, and it has reportedly not been used since. Thomas's fundraising campaign on GiveSendGo has raised over £21,000, with promises to use the funds for new boats and marine equipment, as well as covering fuel and accommodation costs. Thomas has previously shared an invoice indicating he was charged £1,775 by Littlehampton Harbour for recovery services. He posted a video on August 25, stating that The Patriot would receive a makeover and return to service. Thomas has a criminal history, including a conviction for kidnapping, and is a known associate of far-right activist Tommy Robinson. He has described a turning point in his life that led him to become a Christian activist. The RNLI has suspended services in Portsmouth due to physical and online abuse faced by its volunteers following anti-migrant protests, with the Portsmouth Lifeboat Station ceasing operations since September 10. The RNLI has implemented measures to ensure safety in the city's waters during this period.