Deano Ryan and Justin Dixon learn fates in court after Eastney migrant protest turned sour
Seven police officers were assaulted during the protests.
In the early hours of Sunday, September 6, hundreds of protesters blocked the road near Eastney Point, after a small boat carrying 114 migrants arrived on the shoreline. What followed was large-scale unrest, where police officers were attacked and vehicles belonging to the Coastguard and Border Force were severely damaged.
Police officers from Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Thames Valley and the Metropolitan Police were all called to the city - 150 officers in total - to support Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary on the night.
Deano Ryan and Justin Dixon appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court this morning (Thursday, October 8), having both pleaded guilty to violent disorder during the incident. Despite both being charged in relation to the same protest, they appeared separately in the dock.
Ryan, 22 of All Saints Road, Buckland, picked up stones from the seafront and held them above his head, threatening the police officers at the scene. He handed himself in to police, the court heard.
Dixon, 50 of Cross Way, Havant, was seen on CCTV grabbing a metal gate and running towards officers, striking them with it.
Both men had been remanded in custody.
Ryan, who appeared in the dock first, thanked loved ones who had packed into the courtroom for attending as his hearing began. A question remained as to whether he had actually thrown a stone at police, or instead pretended to.
Judge Daniel Sawyer said: “There was a very clear throwing action by Ryan, and police officers clearly swerved when he did so. If the stone had hit a police officer, I’m sure we would have a statement from them.
“It seems to me that pretending to throw a missile at police is not too dissimilar to actually throwing it. Having watched the video several times, it’s not high enough quality to see whether or not a stone was thrown.”
The court heard how Ryan, who wore a blue t-shirt in the dock attended the protest out of “frustration”, having caught wind of the migrant landing on social media. After handing himself in to police, he accepted it was him in their pictures and videos.
Howard Barrington-Clark, representing Ryan, said: “He was there with his partner, and got caught up in the melee. He picked up the stones and his partner told him ‘don’t be stupid’. That’s when they walk away - he’s not involved in any violence, or criminal damage.
“He has no previous convictions, has a good job, and allowing for maximum credit we’re in the realms of a suspended sentence.”
Judge Sawyer said: “There are a number of cases arising from this incident, with a long and wide-ranging disorder. They all play a role, but have not been charged together; I’m not going to try and match them up.
“Regarding the wider violent disorder, you had a very limited, minor role. You are, generally speaking, a kind and hard-working young man.
“But you’re not simply sentenced for the act of pretending to throw a stone - you inflamed and contributed to the wider situation. You went because you believed the nonsense being spoted by bots and agitators.”
Ryan was sentenced to 14 months in custody, suspended for two years. He will be released “later today”, the judge said.
Dixon was next to appear in court, wearing a black pinstripe suit and black tie.
The court heard how at 12.57am on September 6, police were tasked with moving protesters away from a gated car park, where they were “met with resistance”.
Dixon took hold of the gate, and began to close it at speed, making contact with two officers. His actions were captured on police bodycams.
The defendant handed himself into police on September 14, when he told police he was trying to keep protesters and police separated in a “moment of madness”. He has eight previous convictions for 10 offences.
Lucy Linington, defending Dixon, said: “He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, and left work early to hand himself in. He was unrepresented in his police interview, and gave a full and frank account of events.
“He wanted his voice to be heard - sadly for him, it’s his actions that spoke the loudest. This behaviour was an incident of abject stupidity, that’s something he accepts.
“Dixon said his purpose was to keep protesters and officers separate, and while no injuries arose from his actions it was a poor decision, and one he deeply regrets.
“It strikes me that a community order, attached to a suspended sentence, would be longer than the time he would spend in custody.”
The court was also told that in his police interview, Dixon told officers that “there’s no point in going [to a protest] if you’re going to be a d*******”. He also instructed his lawyer to express his apologies for his actions.
Sentencing, Judge Sawyer said: “There was a general air of hostility. Over the course of the evening there were at least seven assaults on police officers.
“The police were there to protect people’s basic rights. You played a limited role and I’ve heard no evidence that you did anything else untoward, but every action - no matter how small - inflames and encourages others to act likewise.
“There’s a cumulative effect of moments of madness.”
Dixon was sentenced to 18 months in custody, suspended for two years, with 260 hours of unpaid work.
Judge Sawyer added: “If you go to more protests in the future, knowing that you have moments of madness, then on your head be it if you have another one.
“You have come within a hair’s breadth of going to prison.”