Protester who battered cyclist with a flagpole during Portsmouth protest waiting to be sentenced

Robert Roberts pleaded guilty to assaulting with actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, after attacking a man who was leaving work at Somerstown Community Centre.

On October 15 last year, Roberts, 52 from White Lion Walk, Gosport, was with a group of protesters amid widespread action across the country.

As Oliver Jarvis left the community centre on a bicycle after finishing work, he was pursued by Roberts and another man, believed to be filming on his phone. CCTV footage showed Roberts cornered against a fence and beaten with a flagpole.

The victim sustained injuries to his right eye, his left left and a cut to his chest. He fled back inside Somerstown Community Centre but a group was then waiting for him outside, forcing him to escape from a back exit.

When arrested, Roberts was also found to have a Mk5 Thunderflash on his person - a pyrotechnic used in Airsoft.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Jarvis said: “I never thought my workplace would have to adjust my work pattern so that I'm not assaulted again.

“This incident has further opened my eyes to how little love some people feel for each other.”

The court heard how Roberts has 32 previous convictions for 66 offences, dating as far back as 1988.

In mitigation, magistrates were told he entered an early guilty plea, was remorseful of his actions and “wishes he could apologise” to his victim.

Appearing at Portsmouth Magistrates Court today (March 10), Roberts was told that he would instead be sent to Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing.

Lead magistrate Rush Dash said: “We are decking jurisdiction. This is out of our range for sentencing, and we are therefore committing it to Portsmouth Crown Court.”

Roberts was granted conditional bail until April 17, and in that time is forbidden from contacting the victim or going to Somerstown Community Centre.