Three jailed for violence at Henry Nowak police protest

Three men person been jailed for convulsive upset astatine a protestation successful Southampton pursuing the execution of Henry Nowak.

Darren Medhurst, 36 of Carnation Road, Southampton was jailed for 3 years and 3 months, portion Callum Darch, 27, of St Blaize Road, Romsey and Harley Haynes, 23, of Avenue Road, Southampton received two-and-a-half twelvemonth sentences.

A full of 12 radical person truthful acold been sentenced implicit the upset during which 12 constabulary officers and a constabulary canine were injured.

Passing condemnation astatine Southampton Crown Court, Judge William Mousley KC said: "Local residents were subjected to fear, distress and a genuine consciousness of danger."

Mousley, who had besides precided implicit Digwa's trial, repeated his decision from erstwhile hearings that the unit was "hate crime, borne retired of a hatred of the constabulary and successful immoderate cases racist views".

Prosecutor Edward Culver told the tribunal Darren Medhurst had played a "leading role" successful the disorder, throwing 2 items astatine constabulary and lighting a burning bin that was propelled towards officers.

His condemnation of 3 years and 3 months is simply a period much than the erstwhile longest condemnation passed implicit the disorder.

The tribunal heard that Medhurst, had 51 erstwhile convictions for 96 offences, including handling stolen goods, burglary and shoplifting.

Harley Haynes was shown successful video footage with a achromatic hood implicit his head.

The tribunal was told helium threw a fig of objects including a ceramic and respective pieces of glass.

One portion deed a lamppost and shattered, showering radical with glass, the prosecution said.

Haynes had 9 convictions for 21 offences including theft, transgression harm and supplying cannabis.

His defence argued that his engagement successful the protests was "a one-off - an impulsive decision".

Callum Darch threw a wheelie bin astatine constabulary officers, the tribunal heard.

Culver explained however it was "targeted straight astatine the police" and however the enactment inflamed and encouraged others successful the crowd.

Kamil Josef Klonek of Lordswood Road, Southampton, became the archetypal of the 21 defendants facing charges pursuing the protestation to plead not guilty.

Prosecutor Culver said Klonek was filmed successful the "centre of the disturbance, chanting astatine police" and throwing a brew can.

The 33-year-old was refused bail and was remanded successful custody. A proceedings day was fixed for 30 November.

The sentencing of Tyler Burley, 18, of Shakespeare Road successful Southampton, was adjourned until 30 June for a pre-sentence study to beryllium prepared. He antecedently pleaded blameworthy to convulsive disorder.

The prosecution work statements from constabulary officers who were astatine the scene, with 1 serviceman saying those taking portion were "acting similar it was immoderate benignant of enactment oregon humor sport".

Another said helium was alert that officers person received threats which person made them acrophobic for their safety.

A 3rd spoke of his fearfulness that idiosyncratic was going to beryllium killed astatine the disturbance.

The tribunal heard antecedently that the upset had outgo constabulary £443,000 for staffing and accommodation, portion Southampton City Council had paid £6,700 successful clean-up costs.

Digwa stabbed Nowak with a ample leaf successful December 2025, which helium said helium carried connected grounds of his Sikh faith, past lied to constabulary astatine the scene, falsely claiming helium was the unfortunate of a racist attack. It pb officers to apprehension Nowak alternatively of his killer.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has since launched an probe into the force's response.