Three Jailed for Violence at Henry Nowak Police Protest
Three jailed for violence at Henry – Following the fatal stabbing of Henry Nowak, three individuals have been sentenced to prison for participating in violent disorder during a protest in Southampton. Darren Medhurst, 36, from Carnation Road, received a three-year-and-three-month term, while Callum Darch, 27, of St Blaize Road, Romsey, and Harley Haynes, 23, of Avenue Road, Southampton, were each given two-and-a-half-year sentences. This brings the total number of people sentenced in the incident to 12, with 12 officers and a police dog sustaining injuries.
Protest Context
The unrest occurred on 2 June, triggered by the release of police bodycam footage showing Nowak, 18, handcuffed as he lay dying after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, 23. Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder. Judge William Mousley KC described the violence as a “hate crime, borne out of a hatred of the police and in some cases racist views,” echoing his earlier ruling during Digwa’s trial.
“Local residents were subjected to fear, distress and a genuine sense of danger,” stated Mousley during sentencing at Southampton Crown Court.
Individual Sentences
Prosecutor Edward Culver highlighted Darren Medhurst’s role in the chaos, noting he had thrown objects at officers and ignited a burning bin aimed at them. His sentence of 3 years and 3 months is the longest yet for those involved in the protest. Medhurst, with 51 prior convictions for 96 offences such as theft and shoplifting, was deemed a key participant.
Harley Haynes, depicted in video footage with a black hood, was reported to have thrown a brick and glass fragments, one of which shattered a lamppost. His nine convictions for 21 offences, including criminal damage and cannabis supply, were cited during the proceedings. Callum Darch, who hurled a wheelie bin at police, was described by Culver as having “targeted directly at the police” and incited further aggression in the crowd.
Other Defendants and Costs
Kamil Josef Klonek, 33, of Lordswood Road, Southampton, became the first defendant to plead not guilty, with the court refusing his bail. His trial is scheduled for 30 November. Meanwhile, Tyler Burley, 18, of Shakespeare Road, had his sentencing delayed until 30 June for a pre-sentence report.
The prosecution presented statements from officers, who described the protest as an event where participants “acted like it was some kind of party or blood sport.” One officer mentioned receiving threats, raising concerns for their safety, while another feared someone might be killed during the disturbance.
The incident, which began with crowds gathering outside the city centre police station, later escalated near the Digwa family home. Digwa, who stabbed Nowak in December 2025, claimed the act was motivated by his Sikh faith and falsely accused police of racism, leading to Nowak’s wrongful arrest. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is now investigating the force’s response to the event.
