Man admits pushing police officer off motorcycle at protest
A man has admitted pushing a police officer off his motorcycle during a protest.
The incident took place during an anti-migrant demonstration in Portsmouth and involved 54-year-old Nigel Wylie, of Redbridge Grove, Havant.
He pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Portsmouth Crown Court following the event, which took place in the Eastney area of the city on September 6 and saw around 200 people gather after the arrival of a dinghy across the English Channel.
Seven police officers were injured during the unrest and Coastguard and Border Force vehicles were damaged.
Judge Daniel Sawyer said: “The context was a large-scale group which began as a protest and turned into violent disorder, which are completely different things.
“Mr Wylie, not quite front and centre but second row and centre of a large group of, largely, men screaming abuse and threats at a line of police officers who were trying to do their jobs.
“Mr Wylie pushed one of those officers off his motorcycle causing him to fall.
“As with all these cases, it’s not just one case of violent behaviour but he was in the middle of a group acting in that way.”
Wylie was refused bail ahead of sentencing, with the judge expressing concerns about the likelihood of reoffending.
The judge said: “Given that these confrontations persist and Mr Wylie was at the forefront of them standing amongst others screaming and shouting abuse and threats at police, and deliberately pushed a police officer off his motorbike, gives me grounds to believe that Mr Wylie would join another such confrontation and would offend on bail.”
A pre-sentence report has been requested, with sentencing set for November 27.
Other people have also been charged and convicted in relation to the protest.
Del Somerville, 42, of Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder and will be sentenced on Thursday.
Justin Dixon, 50, of Cross Way, Havant, also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on October 8.
Deano Ryan, 22, of All Saints Road, Portsmouth, admitted the same charge and was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on October 8.
