Nigel Wylie was “at the forefront” of the protests, a court heard.

A 54-year-old man who pushed a police officer off his motorcycle during an anti-migrant protest has been warned he faces an “immediate term of imprisonment”.

Nigel Wylie, of Redbridge Grove, Havant, pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder at Portsmouth Crown Court at the protest at Eastney Point on September 6. About 200 people gathered at the anti-migrant protest after a dinghy’s arrival across the English Channel.

The aftermath at the in Ferry Road, Eastney, on September 7, 2026, after hundreds of protestors descended on Portsmouth vowing to prevent 140 migrants who arrived in a small boat stepping onto dry land. | Sarah Standing

placeholder image — The aftermath at the in Ferry Road, Eastney, on September 7, 2026, after hundreds of protestors descended on Portsmouth vowing to prevent 140 migrants who arrived in a small boat stepping onto dry land. | Sarah Standing

Seven police officers were injured during the unrest and treated at the scene while Coastguard and Border Force vehicles were damaged.

Judge Daniel Sawyer told the court: “The context was a large-scale group which began as a protest and turned into violent disorder, which are completely different things.

“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. 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. These protests and confrontations continue as recently as yesterday in the Gosport area.

“The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to the British constitution, law, way of life and human rights that we have sent out to the world.

“That right does not extend to acts of violence against those who have made it their business to protect the citizens of this country, namely the police.”

The judge refused a request by Wylie’s barrister to release him on bail until he is to be sentenced on November 27.

He said: “Given that these confrontations persist and 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 Wylie would join another such confrontation and would offend on bail.”

The judge requested a pre-sentence report to be prepared on Wylie after his barrister Adam Furze told the court that the defendant had a number of physical and mental health issues with a previous criminal conviction dating from 25 years ago.

The first man arrested over the protest, Del Somerville, 42, of Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and is expected to be sentenced on Thursday.

Justin Dixon, 50, of Cross Way, Havant, also pleaded guilty to violent disorder and will appear at Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing on October 8.

Deano Ryan, 22, of All Saints Road, Portsmouth, was also charged with violent disorder in relation with the protest and pleaded guilty.

Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court heard Ryan used or threatened unlawful violence at Southsea and that together with others the conduct would have caused another person at the scene to fear for their personal safety.

Ryan was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on October 8.