A father has been jailed for two years for throwing a plastic bottle during a protest against the illegal immigrant invasion of Britain, sparking anger at the UK’s two-tier justice system.
Del Somerville, 42, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after being arrested for throwing a small bottle and swearing at police while demonstrating against the arrival of a boat carrying 114 invaders in Portsmouth on September 6. No injuries were reported at the protest.
He told police after being arrested that he found that bottle on the ground and was going to throw it into nearby bushes, but threw it up into the air instead because he was angry.
Portsmouth Crown Court Judge Daniel Sawyer labelled the father-of-two a “thug” during sentencing on Thursday, and told him the sentence would act as a deterrent to others amid widespread anti-invasion protests taking place in England, BBC News reported.
“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,” Judge Sawyer said in sentencing.
Defence barrister Helen Easterbrook told the court Somerville had been a “calming influence” on the crowd and had thrown the light plastic bottle “in frustration”.
Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe criticised the sentence along with thousands of other Britons on social media, many of whom pointed out that violent criminals were frequently spared jail by the country’s courts.
“I do not believe that any violence against the police is acceptable. I also do not believe that a two year prison sentence is appropriate, particularly when we are allowing paedophiles and rapists to roam our streets because of a supposed lack of prison capacity,” he said.
“This sentence is unfair, unjust and morally wrong. Let’s be honest about what has happened here. The establishment is making an example of this man to deter others from protesting.
“A two year sentence is absolutely outrageous – there are far better ways for him to make right the wrong. The third world invaders are greeted to luxury accommodation as heroes, yet this man will rot in prison. It’s not right.”
Others pointed out that a “black lives matter” protester was spared jail despite kicking a police officer to the ground, and shared stories of child sex offenders and illegal immigrant criminals receiving lighter sentences.
“Two years for throwing a plastic bottle, whilst prisons are basically at capacity. Nice country!” wrote Zoomer Historian, referring to the UK’s prison overcrowding crisis which has resulted in serious criminals being released early.
“Throwing a plastic bottle at police in a protest gets you prison time. Breaking into a sovereign nation gets you 3 and 4 star hotels and weekly allowance,” said another X user.
Header image: Left, Del Somerville (Hampshire Police). Right, police and demonstrators at the protest (inews.co.uk).
