Two men jailed for violent disorder at Southampton protest following Henry Nowak's death
Seven or more men have been sentenced to prison at Southampton Crown Court for violent disorder during a protest on 2 June that followed the murder conviction of Henry Nowak's killer. The protest, attended by approximately 1,000 people, saw missiles including wheelie bins, bricks, and smoke grenades thrown at police, injuring 12 officers and a police dog. Judge William Mousley KC described the violence as a hate crime driven by hatred of police and, in some cases, racist views, with sentences ranging from two years to over three years.
A series of sentencing hearings at Southampton Crown Court have resulted in at least seven men being jailed for violent disorder during a protest on 2 June in Southampton, triggered by the murder conviction of Vickrum Digwa, who stabbed 18-year-old Henry Nowak and falsely claimed to police that Nowak had racially abused him. Among those sentenced were Leon O'Leary (three years and one month), Connor Bishop (two years and eight months), Andrew Summerhayes (three years and two months), and Darren Medhurst, who received the longest sentence of three years and three months for playing a leading role including lighting a burning bin propelled at officers. Footage shown in court depicted defendants throwing smoke grenades, traffic cones, wheelie bins, bricks, and glass at police, with one officer stating she feared she would not survive the night. The disorder cost Hampshire Police an estimated £443,000 in staffing and accommodation, with a further £6,700 spent by Southampton City Council on the aftermath. A total of 21 people have been charged in connection with the events, and further sentencing hearings are expected. Henry Nowak's family had publicly condemned the violence, and his father had previously pleaded for his son's death not to be used to stoke division or hatred.
What's missing
The articles do not detail the outcomes or expected timelines for the remaining charged individuals beyond those already sentenced.
How coverage differed
Breitbart framed the protests primarily through the lens of 'two-tier justice' and sympathy for the demonstrators' grievances, emphasising the police's handling of Nowak's death and describing the killer's blade as a 'traditional Sikh blade.' The Guardian and BBC reported the same facts more neutrally, with The Guardian additionally noting the presence of far-right activist Tommy Robinson among protesters and quoting his subsequent social media post characterising the jailings as political persecution.
What different sources said
- BBC Top StoriesCenter
Three jailed for violence at Henry Nowak police protest
- BBCCenter
Three jailed for violence at Henry Nowak police protest
Two men jailed for violence at protest over police treatment of Henry Nowak
- BreitbartFar Right
Seven Jailed over Violent Protests Following Murder of Handcuffed Teen Henry Nowak
- Sky NewsCenter
Henry Nowak murder protesters jailed for 'hate crime' violence
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