Two more jailed over Henry Nowak protest disorder

Two more men have been jailed for violent disorder at a protest in Southampton following the murder of Henry Nowak.

Seventeen people have so far been sentenced over the 2 June disorder, during which 12 police officers and a police dog were injured.

Kevin Reeves, 31, was jailed for three years and four months, Noah Etherington, 18, was sentenced to one year and 10 months in a young offender institution. Tyler Burley, 18, was given an 18-month sentence in a young offender institution, suspended for two years.

The protest took place after the release of police bodycam footage showing Henry handcuffed as he lay dying after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa.

A total of 28 people have faced charges in connection with the incident, which initially saw crowds demonstrating outside the city centre police station, before gathering close to the Digwa family home.

Digwa stabbed Nowak with a large blade in December 2025, which he said he carried on grounds of his Sikh faith, then lied to police at the scene, falsely claiming he was the victim of a racist attack.

It lead officers to arrest Nowak instead of his killer.

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

Digwa, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years.

Southampton Crown Court heard how violence broke out in the Portswood area of the city.

The court was told Reeves, from Southampton, threw a number of objects, including a metal pan and a traffic cone at police.

Prosecutor Siobhan Linsley said Etherington, from Havant, also threw missiles at officers and at least one of the objects appeared to be "part of a brick".

She said video footage showed Etherington encouraged the crowd to surge forward.

Burley, from Southampton, was sentenced for violent disorder after admitting throwing items which the court heard were "probably bottles" at police.

Judge William Mousley KC said the disorder had caused "serious fear, distress and disruption".

He added the violence was "born out of a hatred of the police" and those who were part of the crowd had "many opportunities" to leave.

The protests had cost police £443,000 in staffing and accommodation and Southampton City Council had spent nearly £7,000 on the clean up and repair operation, the court was told.