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."
Mr Warren added: “Following an initial peaceful and lawful gathering from local residents, a large number of people gathered on Ferry Road near the marina.
“That protest apparently initially appeared spontaneous before it seemed organised elements with online encouragement from public figures having shared information on social media and elsewhere led to a much wider group and a large number of people attending.
“Public awareness spread online and a larger number of people began to congregate in Eastney.
“Protests began popping up in other parts of the area, including Hayling Island and ferry terminals.
“Hampshire Constabulary declared a major incident during the evening and a significant police presence was deployed, and significant resources were required to maintain public order and to ensure those who had arrived in the country were moved to a secure location.
“During the evening there were seven recorded assaults on police officers and damaged caused to police vehicles.
“Other forces were deployed from outside Hampshire to assist and approximately 50 officers from Hampshire and a further 100 supporting officers to assist.”
The court heard local residents had given statements reporting feeling afraid in their own homes while protesters were seen to urinate in their gardens and thousands of pounds of damage was caused to property in the area.
Mr Warren said bricks, stones and bottles were thrown at police and community wardens had been trapped in their cars for five hours during the disturbance.
The prosecutor said at about 11.20pm, Somerville, wearing a khaki hoodie with the hood up, initially motioned to another protester to “back off” from the police line.
He said the defendant then “turned to face the police and was seen to throw a small bottle and he has shouted at officers to ‘f*** off’.
“He remains at the front of the group talking to protesters a short distance from the police line.”
He added that at 1am, Somerville was seen on body-worn video footage “aggressively pushing” through the police line and “shouting verbal abuse at police officers” as well “pointing aggressively” at them.
Mr Warren said Somerville, who lives in a boat at the marina, was tracked to his van by officers on September 11 and is alleged to have assaulted a constable as they attempted to arrest him.
Somerville entered a not guilty plea to this offence and that charge has been referred back to be tried at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court.
Mr Warren said when interviewed, Somerville “said the police were the ones responsible for the violence and he suggests he was struck by a baton multiple times and sprayed with CS gas”.
Helen Easterbrook, defending, said Somerville had been on his boat at the marina on the evening of the incident and had gone out to find out what was happening.
She said: “Unlike so many of those involved in disorders where people are transporting themselves across the country, he was caught up in it.
“He was one of the people affected by this, his original involvement was when he came out of the marina to see what was going on. This does not excuse the behaviour he began to undertake.”
She added: “He asked police to go back to his place of safety on his boat but he was refused.
Ms Easterbook said Somerville initially attempted to calm the situation down but had thrown a “light plastic bottle” which was not intended to hurt anyone.
She added: “He has suffered a number of mental health issues, rebuilding his life multiple times.”
The judge told Somerville: “You didn’t simply find yourself caught up in this disorder, this maybe how it started but you made a decision to engage in this behaviour.”
