Detective guilty of public order offense after club arrest

A senior police officer who shouted and swore at his former partner while he was arrested outside a nightclub has been found guilty of public order offences.

Detective Inspector Mark Portelli, who leads a Dorset Police team tackling domestic violence, was handcuffed outside Canvas in Bournemouth in the early hours of March 31.

The 45-year-old from Broadstone told Southampton Magistrates’ Court the foul language was directed at himself, but he was found guilty of harassing arresting officers and passers-by through his behavior.

The officer, who is also the police’s top stalker, was cleared of assaulting three nightclub workers after they refused to give evidence.

Portelli said he began drinking cocktails and prosecco with friends at three venues from 17:00 GMT.

Shortly before midnight, he was kicked out of the nightclub after a disagreement with his ex-partner, he added.

On a police video played in court, he repeatedly shouted expletives that are sometimes used in a derogatory way to describe women.

However, the officer told the court: “Even though I was looking in the direction of my partner, they were not aimed at her.

“I was chastising myself…I was very embarrassed.

“I run a department to combat this kind of thing and I was arrested for it.”

Portelli said his arrest was unfair although he was ashamed of his swearing, the court was told.

Judge Anthony Calloway said the comments were directed at “a particular identified person, a female person who is not present in court.”

He said it was “extreme abuse committed over a significant period of time”.

The court heard that Portelli, a father of two, is likely to be dismissed from the force following the guilty verdict.

He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £620 costs and a victim surcharge.

Dorset Police confirmed the officer would face proceedings for misconduct.

Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Farrell said: “Det Inspector Portelli’s actions on the night in question clearly fell well short of expectations for the behavior of our officers and staff.

“Members of the public rightly expect that our officers and staff will strive to adhere to the highest standards of behavior, even when they are off duty.”

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