Man drank 12 cans of beer among five in court over Nowak protests

A man who drank 12 cans of beer before joining in with the violence over Henry Nowak’s murder has been jailed along with two others.

Mariusz Szczyglo, 45, of Grove Road in Southampton has been jailed for two years and six months for his role in the violence on June 2 at Southampton Crown Court on July 29.

The court heard how the Polish national was walking home from Sainsbury’s after buying more alcohol when he couldn’t get through the disorder so decided to join in.

The court heard from Ms Siobhan Linsley, prosecuting, that he threw bricks and cans at the cordon and pushed his way to the front of the protests where he pushed police riot shields.

Mr Khalid Missouri, defending, said: “He has no strong views either way about the situation surrounding Henry Nowak or Vickrum Digwa and his family.

“He was just going to Sainsbury’s to get more alcohol.”

Four more men also appeared in court yesterday for their part in the disorder which saw a group of around 150 people clash with police on June 2 a day after Henry Nowak’s murderer, Vickrum Digwa was jailed.

Allan Harcourt, 47, of Landguard Road in Southampton was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment for his role in the protests.

Sentencing Harcourt, Judge William Mousley KC said: “You were wearing a union jack around your neck aggressively confronting police officers demanding to know if they were racist.

He also threw a brick at the cordon.

Juliet Osborne, defending, added that Harcourt was in “active alcohol addiction” during the protests and has since detoxed from alcohol.

Jarrad Wareham, 19, of Tatwin Crescent in Southampton received a sentence of 22 months imprisonment for launching two bottles at police.

Sentencing Wareham, Judge Mousley said: “You thought it was funny and you of your group of associates were all encouraging each other.”

Ms Linsley stated Wareham has four previous convictions relating to eight offences including affray, robbery and burglary.

Ms Laura Duff, defending, said a custodial sentence “can only be a negative thing for him”.

Andrew Riddett, 38, of Seacome Green was denied bail after the court heard how he spat blood at police officers during the protests.

Riddett is yet to enter a plea for his role in the violence.

Ms Linsley, prosecuting, told the court that Riddett was “a leading participant” in the clash between protestors and police in St Denys Road.

The court heard how Riddett spat blood at the police officers in the cordon and referred to one of the police officers as a racial slur.

The court also heard how Riddett, who was riding a bike at the time, fell off causing the injury and bleeding to his face.

Ms Keely Harvey, defending, told the court he had been attending the protests with his son who was imploring his father to calm down.

The court heard how on one occasion during the protests when Riddett was yelling at a female police officer his son told him, “come on dad we don’t talk to or treat women this way.”

On deciding to not grant bail for Riddett, who was not present in court, Judge Mousley KC said: “There is substantial grounds to believe if he was released on bail we would fail to surrender when recalled.”

Riddett is now due in Southampton Crown Court on September 4.

Jordan Hambleton appeared in court charged with violent disorder relating to the protests.

The court heard that on June 2, Hambleton threw an e-scooter in the direction of the police cordon which collided with an observer who suffered a fractured jaw.

Hambleton, 19, of Rollesbrook Gardens in Southampton also faces one charge of robbery, one charge of possessing an article with a blade or point and one charge of threatening another with a bladed article relating to a separate incident on June 3.

He pleaded guilty to the charges of robbery and possession but not guilty to the charge of threatening another.

Hambleton was remanded in custody and ordered to return to court for sentence along with committal for trial or sentence on September 4.

Daily Echo