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A man has admitted to charges of violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon following clashes with police during protests near the location where 18-year-old Henry Nowak was fatally stabbed. Daniel Frost, residing on Northam Road in Southampton, was reported to have thrown dustbins at officers during the demonstration on Tuesday evening, according to Southampton Magistrates’ Court.
In addition to the violent disorder charge, Frost acknowledged having a dog lead equipped with a metal carabiner, which was classified as an offensive weapon. The 44-year-old, who has a lengthy criminal record that includes 25 prior convictions for 55 offenses, was remanded in custody. His sentencing has been scheduled for 16 July at Southampton Crown Court.
The court proceedings revealed that Frost’s past offenses included four incidents of public disorder as well as possession of a blade. During the hearing, defense lawyer Oliver O’Connor described Frost as a father of two who lives alone with his dog and expressed deep remorse over his actions, calling his involvement “one of the biggest regrets in his life.” The protest itself, which took place close to the home of Henry Nowak’s killer, Vickrum Digwa, in Southampton’s Portswood area, involved police being targeted with missiles, resulting in injuries to eleven officers and one police dog.
The protests were fueled by anger over the circumstances surrounding Nowak’s arrest in December. Officers had handcuffed him after he reported being stabbed and struggling to breathe. Digwa had falsely claimed that Nowak had racially abused him, but shortly afterward it became clear that Nowak had suffered a fatal chest wound and died at the scene. Prosecutor Nola Bond told the court that during the protest, Frost threw dustbins and a chair at the police, while also wearing the dog lead with carabiner around his neck and wrapping it around his knuckles, provocatively daring officers to disarm him. Due to the gravity of the offences, District Judge Anthony Callaway referred Frost’s case to the crown court for sentencing.
Another individual involved in the protest, Matt Styler, aged 50 from Gosport, who served in the parachute regiment, was charged with assaulting a police officer by allegedly kicking a police sergeant. Styler pleaded not guilty and remains in custody awaiting a pre-trial hearing at Southampton Crown Court on 26 June
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