Three jailed for violence at Henry Nowak police protest

Three men have been jailed for violent disorder at a protest in Southampton following the murder of Henry Nowak.

Darren Medhurst, 36 of Carnation Road, Southampton was jailed for three years and three months, while Callum Darch, 27, of St Blaize Road, Romsey and Harley Haynes, 23, of Avenue Road, Southampton received two-and-a-half year sentences.

A total of 12 people have so far been sentenced over the disorder during which 12 police officers and a police dog were injured.

The protest on 2 June took place after police bodycam footage was released showing Nowak, 18, handcuffed as he lay dying after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, 23, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years.

Passing sentence at Southampton Crown Court, Judge William Mousley KC said: “Local residents were subjected to fear, distress and a genuine sense of danger.”

Mousley, who had also precided over Digwa’s trial, repeated his conclusion from previous hearings that the violence was “hate crime, borne out of a hatred of the police and in some cases racist views”.

Prosecutor Edward Culver told the court Darren Medhurst had played a “leading role” in the disorder, throwing two items at police and lighting a burning bin that was propelled towards officers.

His sentence of three years and three months is a month more than the previous longest sentence passed over the disorder.

The court heard that Medhurst, had 51 previous convictions for 96 offences, including handling stolen goods, burglary and shoplifting.

Harley Haynes was shown in video footage with a black hood over his head.

The court was told he threw a number of objects including a brick and several pieces of glass.

One piece hit a lamppost and shattered, showering people with glass, the prosecution said.

Haynes had nine convictions for 21 offences including theft, criminal damage and supplying cannabis.

His defence argued that his involvement in the protests was “a one-off – an impulsive decision”.

Callum Darch threw a wheelie bin at police officers, the court heard.

Culver explained how it was “targeted directly at the police” and how the action inflamed and encouraged others in the crowd.

Kamil Josef Klonek of Lordswood Road, Southampton, became the first of the 21 defendants facing charges following the protest to plead not guilty.

Prosecutor Culver said Klonek was filmed in the “centre of the disturbance, chanting at police” and throwing a beer can.

The 33-year-old was refused bail and was remanded in custody. A trial date was fixed for 30 November.

The sentencing of Tyler Burley, 18, of Shakespeare Road in Southampton, was adjourned until 30 June for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. He previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

The prosecution read statements from police officers who were at the scene, with one officer saying those taking part were “acting like it was some kind of party or blood sport”.

Another said he was aware that officers have received threats which have made them concerned for their safety.

A third spoke of his fear that someone was going to be killed at the disturbance.

Five men were jailed on Wednesday:

Daniel Frost, 44, of Southampton, for two years and four months

Reece Robinson, 21, of Havant, for two-years

Taylor Grundy, 22, of Gosport, for two and a half years

Andrew Summerhayes, 38, of Romsey, for three years and two months

Dillon Crawford, 29, of Southampton, for three-years

On Tuesday, Connor Bishop, 24, was sentenced to two years and eight months and Leon O’Leary, 41, was jailed for three years and one month.

The court heard previously that the disorder had cost police £443,000 for staffing and accommodation, while Southampton City Council had paid £6,700 in clean-up costs.

A total of 21 people, have been charged in connection with the incident, which initially saw crowds demonstrating outside the city centre police station, before gathering close to the Digwa family home.

Digwa stabbed Nowak with a large blade in December 2025, which he said he carried on grounds of his Sikh faith, then lied to police at the scene, falsely claiming he was the victim of a racist attack. It lead officers to arrest Nowak instead of his killer.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has since launched an investigation into the force’s response.

BBC News