Ex-soldier jailed after throwing frying pan in Southampton violence

A former soldier who has completed two tours of Afghanistan in the Army threw a frying pan at police during the Henry Nowak protest in Southampton.

Ryan Atkinson has been jailed for two years after being part of a “mob” that pursued police on Belmont Road – near the scene of Mr Nowak’s murder.

Southampton Crown Court heard that Atkinson, 36, picked up a frying pan in the street and threw it at a police line, narrowly missing officers.

Later he stood in a garden outside a block of flats and repeatedly punched police riot shields as officers stood in the street below.

The disorder took place on June 2 – the day after Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed for at least 21 years for murdering Mr Nowak, 18, in Belmont Road in December last year.

Anger erupted after it emerged the student was arrested and handcuffed by police as he lay dying in the street. The officers initially believed Digwa when he lied about being the victim of a racially aggravated assault.

It took officers eight minutes to discover that Mr Novak had been stabbed by Digwa, who was then arrested but not handcuffed.

A peaceful protest outside Southampton Central Police Station turned violent after hundreds of those present marched more than two miles to Belmont Road, which witnessed two hours of “significant disorder”.

Siobhan Linsley, prosecuting, said there were shouts of “Do you want the Digwa address?” and “Get them out”.

She added that Atkinson, of Highcliff Avenue, was dressed in a khaki camouflage-style jacket and a beanie hat. He spotted a frying pan, picked it up, and was “almost skipping down the street” as protesters pursued police.

The court heard that the policing operation cost £443,000, with officers being drafted in from across the south, including London.

Stephen Tricker, mitigating for Atkinson, said his client made full admissions to police when interviewed in the aftermath of the protest.

“He was genuinely remorseful. He accepted he got caught up in the moment. He says that if he could turn the clock back he would not repeat his actions.”

Mr Tricker said Atkinson had spent four years in the army, including two tours Afghanistan.

Judge William Mousley KC said the defendant was an active participant in direct acts of violence, which included bricks, chairs, and other objects being hurled at police.

Daily Echo