On Wednesday, a father-of-two became the first man sent to prison for his part in an anti-migrant demonstration in Portsmouth. Del Somerville, 42, received a two-year term at the city’s crown court after admitting to throwing a plastic bottle and directing abusive language at officers during the disturbance. He had earlier pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the overnight gathering close to Eastney Marina on 6 September.
Hundreds of protesters showed up at Eastney Beach after a vessel holding about 120 migrants was brought ashore there. Somerville was part of a large group of demonstrators protesting the arrival of the migrants, who had been picked up in the Channel and brought ashore by the RNLI. A number of volunteer lifeboat crew members faced online abuse following the incident.
The Charge and the Trial Date
The man entered a plea of guilty to violent disorder. He denied the charge of assaulting a police officer, which concerns an incident on 11 September. That charge will go before Portsmouth Magistrates Court for trial at some future point.
Following the protests in the area, Judge Daniel Sawyer said his sentence would deter others from doing the same. He described Somerville as a “thug”, and then told the defendant: “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.”
What the Court Heard
The prosecution’s case was built on video evidence. Prosecutor Edward Warren said Somerville was part of an “initially peaceful and lawful” gathering of a number of people on Ferry Road.
A little before 23:30 BST, Somerville found himself among a large group of men when the police line stopped their progress. Officers caught him on camera as the man who hurled a small bottle and cursed at those in uniform.
Somerville told police in an interview that he had picked up the bottle from the ground with the intention of tossing it into a nearby bush. He claimed, however, that his anger got the better of him, and he threw it up into the air instead.
The Defence’s Case
Defence barrister Helen Easterbrook said Somerville had been “caught up” in the disturbances. She said he had been attempting to be a “calming influence” on the crowd but had thrown the bottle “in frustration”.
Neither of the two versions of events convinced the judge enough to warrant a reduced sentence, according to his remarks. The defence’s account of the incident — that Somerville had intended to throw the bottle into a bush and that his frustration caused him to throw it instead — was at odds with the prosecution’s, which showed him hurling the bottle toward officers while directing abusive language at them. Neither version was deemed sufficient to support a lighter outcome.
Other Cases Still Pending
Four additional men are still waiting to be sentenced after being charged with violent disorder over the protest in Eastney. None of their cases has come before a court yet, and no information about their charges or situations has been released to the public.
The Protest Context
A boat carrying about 120 migrants reached Eastney Beach, and the RNLI brought them ashore after picking them up in the Channel. That event triggered the protest.
A large gathering of protesters assembled overnight near Eastney Marina. The size of the crowd drew police attention, and it came to light that Somerville was part of the group.
What the Sentence Means
The message is a clear warning. Judge Daniel Sawyer stated that the punishment was meant to stop other people from acting in the same way at future protests.
The court’s depiction of Somerville as a “thug” stands out. The judge’s remarks indicated that the court saw the demonstration as a disruption that had moved beyond mere disorder into something more serious, approaching violence.
Key Facts Box
- Del Somerville, 42, father-of-two
- Guilty plea to violent disorder
- Two-year sentence handed down at Portsmouth crown court
- Protest took place near Eastney Marina on 6 September
- Protest followed arrival of boat carrying about 120 migrants
- Separate charge of assaulting a police officer pending at Portsmouth Magistrates Court
- Four other men awaiting sentence for violent disorder
The message to demonstrators is direct: the court has warned that disorder at protests will not be allowed, and anyone caught taking part faces severe penalties.
“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.”
The judge’s stated goal was that outcome. It remains unknown whether it will dissuade other people.
The verdict has been rendered, and Somerville’s guilt remains established. He will spend the two years handed down by the court, a judgment that cannot be undone.
It remains to be seen if the discouraging force endures past his own situation. The bench holds that it will. So far, though, the proof has failed to settle the matter one way or the other.
Source material: “Man jailed for two years over throwing bottle at Portsmouth migrant protest,” the BBC.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.