Southampton protests over Henry Nowak murder result in multiple jail sentences

A man pleaded guilty to violent disorder after throwing a frying pan at police during a protest over the murder of Henry Nowak, a teenager killed in Southampton. Ryan Atkinson, 36, was remanded in custody and awaits sentencing on June 29.

Five other men were sentenced for violent disorder at the same protest, receiving terms ranging from two to three years. The court heard that police officers and a police dog were injured by missiles such as wheelie bins, chairs and stones, and that the disorder cost police £443,000 in staffing and accommodation, with the city council paying additional clean‑up costs. Judges described the violence as a hate crime directed at police.

The protest, which drew around 1,000 people on June 2 outside Southampton Central Police Station, followed the release of body‑worn footage showing Nowak handcuffed before he died. Authorities deployed over 100 officers from nine areas to manage the unrest.