Del Somerville Jailed for Violent Disorder at Eastney Migrant Protest
A man has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for violent disorder following an overnight protest outside a Portsmouth hotel housing migrants. Del Somerville, 42, from Eastney, pleaded guilty to the charge at Portsmouth Crown Court.
The incident occurred on 28th January, when Somerville threw a bottle towards a group of counter-protesters. The court heard that he had attended the demonstration with others, expressing opposition to the hotel's use for migrant accommodation.
Detective Sergeant Claire and Detective Constable O'Donnell, from Hampshire Constabulary's Eastern Investigations team, highlighted the unacceptable nature of such behaviour, emphasising that police will pursue criminal actions at protests. This conviction underscores the state's readiness to criminalise individuals expressing dissent, particularly concerning the contentious issue of migration, rather than addressing the systemic factors driving such social friction.
