Three More Men Plead Guilty & Jailed for Violent Disorder Over Southampton Henry Nowak Murder Protests

Three more men have been handed immediate prison sentences for their roles in the violent public disorder that erupted in Southampton following the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, bringing the total number of individuals jailed over the unrest to 13.

Denis Read, 28, Harry Varney, 34, and Benjamin Jones, 23, were sentenced by Judge William Mousley KC at Southampton Crown Court after previously pleading guilty to violent disorder at the magistrates' court.

Judge Mousley jailed Varney, of Briarswood, Southampton, for three years, while Read, of Addison Road, Sarisbury Green, received two years and eight months, and Jones, of Locksley Road, Eastleigh, was handed a custodial term of two years and two months.

The court heard that the violent protests broke out on June 2 after police bodycam footage was released showing Mr. Nowak handcuffed as he lay dying from a fatal stab wound inflicted by Vickrum Digwa.

The chaotic scenes initially saw large crowds demonstrating outside the city centre police station before angry groups gathered close to the Digwa family home, resulting in injuries to 12 police officers and a police dog.

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Prosecutors detailed the severe financial impact of the unrest, revealing that the disorder cost the police force £443,000 for emergency staffing and accommodation, alongside a further £6,700 incurred by Southampton City Council for extensive clean-up operations.

A total of 22 individuals have now been formally charged in connection with the widespread incident as the justice system continues to aggressively process those involved in the rioting.

The sentencing of a fourth defendant, 45-year-old Mariusz Szczyglo of Grove Road, Southampton, was administratively adjourned by the judge until June 30.

The underlying murder occurred in December 2025 when Digwa fatally stabbed Mr. Nowak with a large blade he claimed to carry on religious grounds, before falsely telling responding officers at the scene that he was the victim of a racist attack.

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