Anti-migrant vigilante Daniel Thomas has pled guilty to criminal damage after slashing a migrant dinghy with a knife in the English Channel.

The 37-year-old influencer, who also goes by “Danny Tommo”, changed his plea from not guilty when he appeared via video link from prison at Portsmouth Crown Court on Thursday.

Thomas’ move may come as a surprise to his supporters, with his ally and far-right leader Tommy Robinson urging millions of followers to donate to Thomas’ legal fees on the premise that he had been pleading not guilty.

Thomas livestreamed himself on a boat in the English Channel and filmed migrants on a dinghy being rescued by the RNLI, Border Force and the French Coastguard.

Footage showed that once the boat was empty of migrants – but had a French rescue worker on board – Thomas appeared to slash the dinghy with a knife.

Thomas faces a second charge, and reiterated his plea of not guilty to failing to disclose his phone PIN to police.

This is a developing story.