Eight admit violent disorder after Henry Nowak protest

Eight men have pleaded guilty to violent disorder following a protest in Southampton over the murder of Henry Nowak.

The charges relate to incidents of disorder on Tuesday 2 June, in which eleven police officers and a police dog were injured as missiles including wheelie bins and chairs were thrown at officers in Southampton.

The protest happened after police bodycam footage was released showing Nowak, 18, from Essex, handcuffed as he lay dying after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, 23, who was jailed for life on 1 June.

Hampshire Constabulary said a total of 20 people had now been charged following the protests.

Nine people appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Jordan Hambleton, 19, of Rollesbrook Gardens, Southampton pleaded guilty to violent disorder in Southampton on 2 June.

Leon O'Leary, 41 and of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He also pleaded guilty to obstructing/resisting a constable and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place on Sunday in Basingstoke.

Tyler Burley, 18, of Shakespeare Avenue in Southampton, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Darren Medhurst, 36, of Carnation Road Southampton, also pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

All four will be sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday.

Benjamin Jones, 23, of Locksley Road in Eastleigh, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Harley Haynes, 23, of Avenue Road, Southampton, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Callum Darch, 27, of St Blaize Road, Romsey, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Mariusz Szczyglo, 45 of Grove Road in Southampton, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

The four will all be sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Kamil Josef Klonek, 33, of Lordswood Road in Southampton, who is charged with violent disorder, entered no plea.

The court heard he is alleged to have thrown a beer can towards police on 2 June.

He will appear at Southampton Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Thursday.

Nowak, from Chafford Hundred, was fatally stabbed in Southampton in December by Digwa, who falsely claimed he had been racially abused and had acted in self-defence.

He was a first-year accountancy and finance student at the University of Southampton.

Additional reporting by Curtis Lancaster and Nathan Briant.