A thug who threw a plastic bottle at police during violent anti-migrant protests in Portsmouth has been jailed for two years.

Del Somerville, 42, lobbed the projectile at officers and swore at them during a protest on September 6. 

The father-of-two was the first to be arrested and sentenced following the violence which erupted after the arrival of a small boat carrying 114 migrants in the Hampshire city.

He previously pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder. 

Hundreds of people gathered at Eastney Marina overnight and into the early hours after the boat docked in the city.

But the protest turned violent as those gathered attempted to stop several coaches carrying those who disembarked from leaving the harbour. 

Seven police officers were injured and treated at the scene, while Coastguard and Border Force vehicles were damaged, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said. 

Hundreds of protestors clashed with police near Eastney beach in Portsmouth after a dinghy carrying 114 asylum seekers was escorted to the shore

Judge Daniel Sawyer told him that his sentence would act as a deterrent to others following subsequent protests in the area.

Describing him as a ‘thug’, he 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.’

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.’

This is a breaking news story and is being updated.