Del Somerville,a 42-year-old father of two, has been sentenced to two years in prison for violent disorder. The conviction follows a September 6 protest in Portsmouth triggered by the arrival of 114 migrants via a small boat.
A two-year sentence for the Eastney Marina disorder
Del Somerville, a resident of the Paulsgrove area who lives on a boat at the marina, was convicted after he threw a plastic bottle at police officers during the unrest. according to the report, body-worn video captured Somerville aggressively pushing through police lines and shouting verbal abuse at officers around 1 a.m. on the night of the incident.
Judge Daniel Sawyer characterized Somerville as a "thug" during the sentencing, emphasizing that the two-year term is intended to serve as a deterrent to others. the court heard that police officers deserve respect for their dedication to public protection, regardless of their personal views, and that the legal system must punish those who assault them.
Seven injured officers and the deployment of 150 personnel
The scale of the disorder at Eastney Marina required a massive security operation to ensure the 114 migrants could be moved to a secure location. As reported,Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary declared a major incident, deploying 50 local officers supported by an additional 100 officers from outside the region.
The violence resulted in seven police officers being injured and treated at the scene. furthermore, vehicles belonging to the Border Force and the Coastguard were damaged, and community wardens were reportedly trapped in their cars for five hours while bricks, stones, and bottles were hurled at the police line.
Social media's role in the September 6 unrest
While the gathering on Ferry Road initially appeared to be a spontaneous reaction by local residents, prosecutor Edward Warren noted that the event involved organized elements. The report says that public figures used social media to share information and encourage attendance, which expanded the protest beyond the immediate vicinity of the marina to other areas, including ferry terminals and Hayling Island.
This pattern of digitally-fueled unrest reflects a growing trend where localized girevances are rapidly amplified by online networks , transforming a small gathering into a regional security crisis. The resulting chaos extended into the neighborhood, with local residents reporting that protesters urinated in their gardens and caused thousands of pounds in property damage.
The disputed arrest of Del Somerville on September 11
Despite his guilty plea for violent disorder, Del Somerville has entered a not guilty plea regarding a separate charge of assaulting a constable. This second incident allegedly occurred on September 11 when officers tracked Somerville to his van to execute his arrest.
The case remains partially unresolved, as the assault charge has been referred back to Portsmouth Magistrates' Court. Somerville claims that the police were the primary aggressors, alleging that he was sprayed with CS gas and struck multiple times with a baton. While his defense attorney, Helen Easterbrook, argued that Somerville was simply a local resident who became "caught up" in the event, the source provides only the defense's account of police misconduct, with no official police rebuttal of the CS gas or baton allegations included in the report.
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