Moment top domestic abuse detective is restrained by his colleagues after vile foul-mouthed rant towards partner
Yob launched into verbal attack outside a nightclub after bottomless brunch
THIS is the moment a top domestic abuse detective was restrained by his colleagues after a vile foul-mouthed rant towards his partner.
Detective Inspector Mark Portelli, 45, bellowed “You stupid f***ing b****” and “you stupid f***ing c***” in the sick outburst.
The off-duty senior officer launched the verbal attack outside a nightclub in Bournemouth after a bottomless brunch.
Footage shows Portelli in cuffs as cops bundled him towards a custody van.
He was being arrested by his Dorset Police colleagues over an unrelated bust-up inside the club.
As they headed towards the van, Portelli shouted “You stupid f***ing t***” at the woman.
While he continued with his tirade, one officer is heard saying: “This isn’t going to help, is it?”
The arrest cops repeatedly called Portelli’s name in a desperate bid to calm him down.
Portelli was found guilty of using threatening or abusive words likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress after a one-day trial last week.
He was also accused of assaulting three staff members at Canvas nightclub in Bournemouth but the charges were withdrawn at court.
Southampton Crown Court was shown a 19-second clip of Portelli’s outburst from PC Robert Cleary’s bodycam.
In the clip, Portelli is seen dressed for a night out in a black collared shirt with his hands cuffed behind his back.
He had downed cocktails and prosecco at the bottomless brunch before launching into his rant at 12.45am on March 31.
DI Portelli, from Poole, works as a senior officer in the high harm unit of Dorset Police.
The unit covers domestic violence and stalking cases as well as repeat offenders.
VILE THUG
He argued his offensive words were directed at himself and not his unnamed partner.
But District Judge Anthony Callaway rejected the disgraced cop’s argument.
Sentencing Portelli, Judge Callaway said: “I accept that this was an aberration.
“You have let yourself down. The public expect officers to set an example and you did not.”
Judge Callaway said Portelli’s ejection from Canvas and arrest on had “no relevance” to the offence.
He said: “There was an incident within the club that led to the arrest involving common assault of three persons who worked for the club.
“This may have predicated the arrest but it has nothing to do with this incident.
“He started drinking at five o’clock in the afternoon, he consumed a quantity of drink, no offence in that.”
Callaway added: “PC Luke Booth and PC Robert Cleary were deployed to an incident.
“Portelli was subject to an arrest. According to PC Cleary he uttered ‘You stupid f***ing t***’ looking back at the nightclub.
“He commented ‘You stupid f***ing b****, stupid f***ing c**t’. The defendant was arrested and interviewed.
“He was annoyed about this arrest and said the comments were not directed at any party.
“I think they were directed to a particular person, the statements were abusive.
“They were uttered over a specific period of time while he was being arrested and on that basis I find him guilty.”
COP IN COURT
DI Portelli told the court he had downed several cocktails and glasses of prosecco at the bottomless brunch.
The cop said he then left for another bar where he continued to drink.
He said the rant was a “regrettable burst of anger” and that he was annoyed with himself.
DI Portelli said: “I was not looking to achieve anything, it was a regrettable burst of anger.
“Although I was looking in the direction of my partner it was not directed at her. I was annoyed with myself.”
He was fined £500 and ordered to pay the prosecution’s costs of £620 as well as a victim surcharge of £200.
‘MISCONDUCT’ PROBE
Dorset Police’s Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell slammed Portelli’s outburst after his conviction last week.
She said: “DI Portelli’s actions on the night in question clearly fell well below the expectations of behaviour for our officers and staff.
“We took swift action to arrest, suspend and investigate the officer.
“The public quite rightly expect that our officers should adhere to the highest standards in their behaviour, even when not on duty.
“I know our own officers and staff will also feel very let down by a fellow officer.
“DI Portelli has jeopardised the trust and confidence the public have in us.”
DCC Farrell also revealed DI Portelli will now face misconduct proceedings.
The assault charges against DI Portelli were withdrawn by the prosecution because the alleged victims did not attend the trial.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.