Portsmouth anti-migrant protester jailed for violent disorder

A father-of-two has become the first protester jailed after throwing a plastic bottle at police and swearing at officers during an anti-migrant demonstration in Portsmouth.

Del Somerville, 42, of Paulsgrove, received a two-year sentence at Portsmouth Crown Court having admitted violent disorder.

He was the first arrested and sentenced over violence triggered by a small boat's arrival in the Hampshire city on 6 September.

Judge Daniel Sawyer stated the sentence would act as a deterrent after subsequent local protests.

Describing Somerville as a "thug", he told him: "Police officers dedicate their lives to the protection of the public regardless of their own views, the very least they can expect is that those who engage in protests treat them with respect and the courts punish those who assault them."

Edward Warren, prosecuting, said: "This case arises out of the violence that occurred on the night of 6th September following the arrival into the country of 114 illegal migrants who had crossed the Channel from France and were diverted to Eastney marina escorted by the Coastguard and the RNLI."