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Three individuals have been sentenced to prison following violent disturbances at a protest in Southampton linked to the murder of Henry Nowak. Darren Medhurst, aged 36 from Carnation Road, Southampton, received a sentence of three years and three months. Meanwhile, Callum Darch, 27, from St Blaize Road, Romsey, and Harley Haynes, 23, of Avenue Road, Southampton, were each given jail terms of two and a half years. These sentences bring the total number of people convicted in connection with the unrest to twelve, an event during which twelve police officers and a police dog sustained injuries.
During the sentencing at Southampton Crown Court, Judge William Mousley KC emphasized the impact of the violence on the local community. He remarked, “Local residents were subjected to fear, distress and a genuine sense of danger.” Additionally, Judge Mousley reiterated previous findings, characterizing the disorder as a “hate crime, borne out of a hatred of the police and in some cases racist views.” Prosecutor Edward Culver described Medhurst’s role as central to the chaotic events, highlighting his actions of throwing items at officers and setting a bin on fire, which was then hurled toward the police. Medhurst’s lengthy criminal history includes 51 convictions covering 96 offences such as burglary, shoplifting, and handling stolen goods.
Video evidence showed Harley Haynes wearing a black hood while he threw various objects, including a brick and glass, one of which shattered against a lamppost, scattering glass shards. Haynes has a criminal record with nine convictions for 21 offences, including theft, criminal damage, and cannabis supply. His defense argued that his participation was impulsive and a one-off act. Callum Darch was identified as having thrown a wheelie bin aimed directly at police officers, an act that prosecutor Culver said escalated the situation and incited further violence from the crowd.
The court also heard about Kamil Josef Klonek, the first of 21 defendants to plead not guilty. Klonek was recorded at the center of the disturbance, shouting at police and throwing a beer can. Denied bail, he remains in custody with a trial scheduled for late November. Meanwhile, sentencing for Tyler Burley, 18, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, was postponed for a pre-sentencing report. Statements from attending officers depicted those involved as treating the event like a “party or blood sport,” with considerable fear for safety and concerns that fatalities could have occurred during the violent clashes.
The disorder that erupted in early June followed the murder of Henry Nowak in December 2025, who was fatally stabbed by Vikrum Digwa. Digwa claimed to carry a large blade due to his Sikh faith and falsely accused Nowak of a racist attack, which misled police and initially led to Nowak’s arrest. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an inquiry into how police handled the incident and the subsequent protest. The court was also informed that costs arising from the disorder included £443,000 for police staffing and accommodation and £6,700 in cleanup expenses by Southampton City Council. Henry Nowak’s family has reportedly expressed disappointment over the protests that followed the tragic killing
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