Exclusive:What happened at Danny Tommo's court appearance in Portsmouth as tears shed and Bible hugged
Daniel Thomas appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court for the first time today.
Danny Tommo’s court hearing gained massive attention from the country’s media.
The defendant, real name Daniel Thomas, has been charged with one count of criminal damage and one count of failing to comply with a section 49 order. The 37-year-old is listed as having no fixed abode, but the court heard he lives in “central Hampshire”.
By law, the media is bound by tight restrictions on what we can report on during court cases. Section 52A of the Crime and Disorder Act forbids the press from publishing anything that could prejudice a future juror - such as evidence, previous convictions or reasons why the prosecution might oppose bail.
However, what we would colloquially describe as “courtroom colour”, is widely accepted as reportable; us telling you what colour t-shirt Thomas wore is not going to prejudice a jury, for example.
So here is everything that happened in Thomas’ court case in Portsmouth today, that we are legally free to report.
Daniel Thomas’ hearing
With such a large media presence for Thomas’ hearing today, special arrangements had to be made at Portsmouth Crown Court. Alongside The News was the likes of BBC, ITV, PA, GB News and Urban Scoop - Tommy Robinson’s video platform. Other members of the press also attended via video link.
Members of the media were moved to the jury bench, while Thomas’ family and supporters packed out the public gallery.
Thomas himself also appeared via video, from HMP Winchester where he has been remanded in custody. He was wearing a grey t-shirt, and visibly clutched a copy of the Holy Bible throughout the hearing.
Initially, the court drew up it’s plan for following hearings. Thomas will next appear in court on Thursday, November 12, and will have other court dates leading up to a provisional trial on March 1 next year.
After that, a bail application was heard from Thomas’ lawyer, Simon Pentol KC. He proposed a “package of bail conditions”, that included GPS monitoring, as an alternative to being kept in custody.
Judge James Newton-Price later ruled that the defendant would not be granted bail, and will remain at HMP Winchester until his trial. As he gave this direction, Thomas could be seen with his chair pushed back on the video link and his head bowed, sobbing.
Once the hearing ended, members of the press and Thomas’ supporters could be seen filming and live-streaming outside court. There was a large police presence in the area, and it took more than 45 minutes for the crowd to disperse.