Leon O’Leary & Connor Bishop: First Defendants Jailed for Southampton Violent Disorder Following Murder of Henry Nowak

Two men have been jailed for their roles in violent disorder that erupted during a protest in Southampton following the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.

Leon O’Leary, 41, of Basingstoke, was sentenced to three years and one month in prison, while Connor Bishop, 24, of Southampton, was jailed for two years and eight months after both admitted violent disorder.

Southampton Crown Court heard the disorder broke out on 2 June after the release of police body-worn video footage showing Mr Nowak in handcuffs shortly before he lost consciousness following a fatal stabbing. The violence resulted in injuries to 12 police officers and a police dog, with officers subjected to a sustained barrage of missiles including traffic cones, wheelie bins, chairs and other objects.

The protest initially gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station before moving towards the home area of convicted murderer Vickrum Digwa. Digwa, 23, was later sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years after being convicted of murdering Mr Nowak.

Read more: Southampton Public Disorder: Dozens Face Charges After Henry Nowak Unrest

Prosecutor Siobhan Linsley told the court that O’Leary was captured on police footage standing near a police cordon before spotting a smoke grenade on the ground, picking it up and throwing it towards officers.

O’Leary also admitted resisting a police officer and possessing an offensive weapon after police attended his home to arrest him during the early hours of 7 June. Officers found him at the top of a staircase adopting what was described as a “fighting stance” and making threats towards them. Pava spray was deployed before he was detained.

A subsequent search of his bedroom uncovered a samurai sword. O’Leary told officers he had owned the weapon for approximately 20 years as a decorative item and was unaware of changes in the law relating to its possession.

Bishop was identified from footage showing him carrying and repeatedly throwing a yellow traffic cone towards police officers. Ms Linsley said he was seen “pursuing officers for some time with it”.

Read more: Violent disorder and protests: Why crossing the line means prison

“Once it’s thrown he then follows it again, picks it up again,” she told the court.

Video footage played during the hearing also captured members of the crowd shouting abuse towards officers as disorder continued around the police cordon.

When arrested at his home on 3 June, Bishop initially answered “no comment” during interview before later accepting he had been present after being shown the footage. He also admitted throwing a box of screws and punching a wall, actions which were not captured on the available video evidence.

During police interview, Bishop said he had “thrown items to fit into the crowd” and admitted consuming alcohol beforehand, stating he had drunk a small amount of beer which made him “more lairy”.

Read more: Harehills Rioter Jailed for Arson & Violent Disorder

Defending Bishop, Thomas Evans said his client was “perhaps an example of peer pressure and group thinking”.

Mr Evans told the court Bishop had expressed remorse, saying: “I was just being a d***. I wanted to fit in.”

The court heard submissions that neither defendant had played a leading role in organising the disorder.

Mr Evans said: “They are not the instigators of this disorder, they are inevitable result of other individuals who seek to harness anger.”

In sentencing, Judge William Mousley KC described a situation in which police officers faced “constant assault” from projectiles and threats of violence from members of the crowd.

The judge said those involved had opportunities to disengage from the disorder and leave the area but instead chose to participate.

He told the defendants that the violence had caused “fear, distress and disruption” to members of the public and had resulted in substantial expense to public authorities.

The court heard that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary incurred approximately £443,000 in staffing and accommodation costs linked to the operation, while Southampton City Council spent around £6,700 dealing with the aftermath.

Judge Mousley also referred to significant damage caused during the disorder, including damage to vehicles and property in the surrounding area.

O’Leary and Bishop are the first defendants to be sentenced in connection with the unrest. A total of 21 people have been charged as part of the ongoing investigation into the Southampton protest disorder.

The violence followed widespread public concern over police handling of the immediate aftermath of Henry Nowak’s fatal stabbing. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into the police response after body-worn video footage emerged showing officers detaining Mr Nowak shortly before his death.