Six more men are charged with violent disorder after 'riot' in Southampton following murder of Henry Nowak

Published: 12:09, 6 June 2026 | Updated: 12:10, 6 June 2026 Six more men have been charged with violent disorder during a 'riot' in Southampton in the wake of the murder of Henry Nowak.  Those charged include Kevin Reeves, 31, Andrew Riddett, 38, Harry Varney, 34, Dillon Crawford, 29, all from Southampton, and Taylor Grundy, 22, from Gosport.  Andrew Summerhayes, 38, has also been charged with violent disorder and faces two additional counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.  All six men have been remanded in custody and are due to appear today before Southampton Magistrates' Court.   Southampton was rocked by civil unrest on Tuesday night, leaving 11 police officers and a police dog injured as hundreds gathered in the Portswood area.  The disorder erupted after Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced on Monday to a minimum of 21 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Henry last year.  Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police have since faced intense scrutiny over their handling of the incident after officers handcuffed Henry and ignored his pleas that he had been stabbed and could not breathe.  Digwa had lied to police that he had been the victim of a racist attack at the hands of Henry. Police clash with protesters in Southampton on Tuesday evening. Now, two men have been charged following the disorder The protests in Southampton followed the murder of Henry Nowak (pictured) in December last year  The CCTV footage of the scene has sent shockwaves around the world, prompting the US State Department to weigh in, calling for 'two-tiered policing' to be rejected in the West.  This was in reference to British police accepting on face value Digwa's claim that he was the victim of a racist attack even though Mr Nowak was doubled up on the ground while Digwa watched on. Earlier US Vice President JD Vance drew a stern rebuke from Downing Street after he turned to X and called for 'righteous anger' over Mr Nowak's killing and blamed his murder on migration. This followed the force's conduct coming under an investigation by police watchdog Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) while Chief Constable of the force, Alexis Boon, has apologised to Henry's family. Despite Henry's father, Mark Nowak, making an emotional plea outside court on Monday for his son's murder not to be used to 'create further hatred, division or tension', hundreds of people descended on Southampton on Tuesday - including far-right activists such as Tommy Robinson. The protest began outside Southampton Police Station before moving towards Digwa's family home, where bins were set on fire and residents' cars were vandalised. Three other men have since appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court in connection with the disorder that swept through Southampton, including one protester who threw a traffic cone at police refused to enter the court because he was 'crying his eyes out'.  Connor Bishop, 24, was hauled to Southampton Magistrates' Court on Friday after he was caught on video hurling the object at 'retreating' police officers. Vickrum Digwa (pictured), 23, was jailed on Monday for a minimum of 21 years after he stabbed Henry to death Protesters hurl bins at police officers during the unrest in Southampton on Tuesday  However, he refused to leave his cell and enter the courtroom because he was sobbing, forcing his lawyer to enter his guilty pleas to violent disorder on his behalf. Noah Etherington, 18, pleaded guilty to violent disorder by throwing a 'brick' towards police officers, while Reece Robinson, 21, admitted to the same offence after he threw objects at police. Describing Bishop's offence, prosecutor Kevin Lucie told Southampton Magistrates' Court: 'Mr Bishop attended the planned protest at Southampton Central Police Station at 6pm on June 2. 'At first he doesn't seem to be getting involved but effectively he is seen in later clips when he does become involved. 'He's seen in a large group throwing things at retreating police officers. The group were carrying wheelie bins above their heads, some of which were thrown at the police. 'The suspect can be seen picking up and throwing a traffic cone - that was his involvement.' The court heard that Bishop had been convicted of assault before as well as assaulting police officers which Mr Lucie said showed 'he has no regard for police or emergency workers and will use violence against them'. 'They have all occurred between 2022 and 2025. There is a substantial concern that he will keep offending,' he added. The hearing was conducted in Bishop's absence, with the usher telling the court: 'He's refusing to come up from the cells. He's crying his eyes out.'  At Portsmouth Magistrates' Court, Etherington, from Havant, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and made no application for bail. Prosecutor Graham Heath told the court: 'Captured on multiple clips of video footage, [Etherington is] seen close to the police line, encouraging others to become involved in violence before being seen to throw a brick in the direction of police officers.' He added that Etherington had several convictions in the youth court, including one for common assault. District Judge Anthony Callaway said that there was no suggestion yet that Etherington was responsible for injuries inflicted to a police dog and 11 officers who attended the protest.  Robinson, a groundworker with no previous convictions, also pleaded guilty to violent disorder.  Vice President JD Vance penned a scathing statement slamming 'European elites' and 'the mass invasion of migrants' for the horrific death of UK teenager Henry Nowak Defending, Bridget O'Hagan said: 'His reason for attending was curiosity more than anything else. 'The person known as Tommy Robinson was due to give a speech.' Robinson had 'no intention' of participating in anything other than a peaceful protest, Ms O'Hagan said, and he 'got swept up in the emotion of the event'. She continued: 'It's impossible to say whether these items hit [police] or not.' Ms O'Hagan added that Robinson was 'deeply ashamed and remorseful for his behaviour'. His application for bail was rejected. All three protesters have been remanded into custody.  The next hearings in the protesters' cases will take place at Southampton Crown Court on Monday June 8. Elsewhere, two other men appeared on Thursday at Southampton Magistrates' Court - Daniel Frost, 44, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possessing a dog lead with a metal carabiner and Matt Styler, 50, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer. The court heard how Frost had thrown dustbins at police officers during the protest. During Styler's court appearance, the veteran soldier - who served with the Parachute Regiment - was accused of kicking a police sergeant during the Portswood disorder. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer described the demonstrations as 'disgraceful and completely unacceptable'. The PM said: 'Henry Nowak's family have shown extraordinary dignity after their son's life was stolen in appalling circumstances. 'He was clearly a kind, and thoughtful and much-loved young man. 'There are serious questions to answer, including how accusations of racism informed police thinking, and we are supporting the IOPC to get to the bottom of what happened. 'But no matter the pain we feel, there is no justification for more violence and disorder. The attacks directed towards police officers in Southampton last night were disgraceful and completely unacceptable.' Sir Keir added that anyone found to have been involved in the disorder would meet 'the full force of the law'. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.