Southampton man, 46, charged after Henry Nowak unrest

A Southampton man has become the 34th person to be charged following the protests that erupted after the murder of Henry Nowak.

Peter Black, 46, of Waterhouse Lane, was arrested on July 23 and subsequently charged with violent disorder.

Police say he appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court on July 24 and admitted the offence.

Black was remanded in custody to appear at Southampton Crown Court on August 14, when he is due to be sentenced.

Many other defendants have already appeared in court and been jailed for their part in the unrest that broke out in city on June 2.

Anger erupted after police bodyworn video showed Henry being arrested and handcuffed as he lay dying in the street.

The 18-year-old University of Southampton student told police he had been stabbed and could not breathe.

But he was detained after officers believed the lies told by his murderer, Vickrum Digwa, who falsely claimed that Henry had racially abused and assaulted him.

About 1,000 people attended a protest outside Southampton Central Police Station the day after Digwa was jailed for at least 21 years.

Southampton Crown Court has heard that the protest turned violent later in the evening after between 600 and 700 people marched towards Portswood amid shouts of “Do you want the house?” – a reference to the Digwa family home on St Denys Road.

After heading for Portswood police station they descended on Belmont Road – the scene of Mr Nowak’s death – where “significant” disorder boke out.

Police came under almost constant threat from projectiles, with some officers surrounded as they attempted to disperse the crowd. Residents were left trapped in their homes as violent scenes unfolded outside.

A total of 12 officers were injured, largely from bricks being thrown, while two police vehicles and at least two cars belonging to residents were damaged.

As reported, two police officers are under investigation for potential misconduct after allegedly failing to recognise that Henry needed urgent medical treatment in the moments before his death.

After studying the evidence and representations from his family, the Independent Office for Police Conduct IOPC said the officers, who were the first to arrive at the scene on December 3, 2025, may have breached police professional standards of duties, responsibilities, use of force and discreditable conduct.

One of the officers is also being investigated after appearing to dismiss Henry’s repeated claims that he had been stabbed.

Daily Echo