A senior police officer, Mark Portelli, tasked with handling domestic violence cases has been found guilty of a drunken tirade directed at his partner after a bottomless brunch.
Detective Inspector Mark Portelli, 45, unleashed a torrent of verbal abuse on his spouse following his expulsion from the Canvas nightclub in Bournemouth, Dorset, during the early hours of March 31 of this year.
The cop, who has served 19 years on the force, consumed drinks and prosecco at a bottomless brunch earlier in the day, before exclaiming, ‘you stupid fucking bitch*.’
Mark Portelli was apprehended by authorities from the police force in which he is employed after he further seemingly verbally assaulted his girlfriend, referring to her derogatorily as a ‘cunt’.
Portelli claimed that even though he had been looking at her and shotuing profanities towards her direction that he was not swearing at her, he was swearing at himself. An explanation that the Magistrates did not believe. Watch the video here.
On Wednesday, following a one-day trial at Southampton Magistrates’ Court in Hampshire, the Dorset Police officer was convicted of employing threatening or abusive language intended to induce harassment, anxiety, or distress.
Mark Portelli of Poole, Dorset, employed in the high harm section of Dorset Police addressing domestic abuse, was additionally accused of assaulting three staff members at the nightclub; however, the allegations were dismissed in court because none of the witnesses turned up to court.
He was penalised £500 and mandated to cover the prosecution’s expenses of £620 along with a victim surcharge of £200.
In sentencing DI Mark Portelli, Judge Callaway stated: ‘I acknowledge that this was an aberration; you have disappointed yourself.’
‘The public expects officers to set an example and you did not.’
Mark Portelli told the court he had consumed several cocktails and glasses of prosecco at the bottomless brunch, a meal where guests are given unlimited alcoholic drinks for a set period of time, before leaving for another bar where he continued to drink.
He said the incident was a ‘regrettable burst of anger’ and that he was annoyed with himself.
Mark 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.’ Watch the video here.
Mark Portelli was also involved in a similar case in 2019 when one of his subordinates Detective Constable David Alway was accused of pushing his wife to the ground during an argument.
Judge Callaway outlined the case, saying that his ejection from Canvas and arrest on March 31 this year had ‘no relevance’ to the offence which happened afterwards.
‘There was an incident within the club that led to [DI Mark Portelli’s] arrest involving common assault of three named persons who worked for the club,’ he said.
‘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.
‘PC [Luke] Booth and PC [Robert] Cleary were deployed to an incident, Mark Portelli was subject to an arrest.
‘According to PC Cleary, he uttered ‘you stupid fucking twat’ looking back at the nightclub and commented ‘you stupid fucking bitch, stupid fucking cunt’. Watch the video here.
‘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 and uttered over a specific period of time whilst [DI Mark Portelli] was being arrested and on that basis, I find him guilty.’
Speaking after the hearing, Deputy Chief Constable of Dorset Police Rachel Farrell said: ‘DI Mark 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 [ON FULL PAY] and investigate the officer.
‘Members of the public quite rightly expect that our officers and staff should strive to adhere to the highest of 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 who has jeopardised the trust and confidence the public have in us.’
She also added that Mark Portelli will now face misconduct proceedings.
The assault charges against Mark Portelli were withdrawn by the prosecution because the alleged victims, three nightclub staff members, did not attend the trial.
UPDATE 20.06.25
Dorset Police officer, Det Insp Mark Portelli, 45, was previously convicted of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
He was previously convicted in a Magistrates Court but anyone can then appeal a conviction to be heard in a Crown Court where a couple of magistrates, not involved before, will listen to witnesses etc. as if it is a brand new hearing and either overturn the conviction or not.
Det Insp Mark Portelli appealed the December 2024 conviction. The appeal was heard at Southampton Crown Court on Monday.
A force statement explained there would now be a review of the detective’s conduct.
The conviction was in relation to an incident on Saturday 30 March and into the early hours of Sunday 31 March 2024 at the Canvas night club in Poole Hill, Bournemouth, when Det Insp Mark Portelli was off-duty.
As previously reported, the officer, who leads a Dorset Police team dealing with domestic abuse and stalking, was handcuffed outside the club after allegations he used “foul language”.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.