Five jailed for violence at Henry Nowak police protest

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

Daniel Frost, 44, of Southampton, was jailed for two years and four months and Reece Robinson, 21, of Havant, received a two-year sentence. Taylor Grundy, 22, of Gosport, was handed two and a half years in jail.

Andrew Summerhayes, 38, of Romsey, was jailed for three years and two months, while Dillon Crawford, 29, of Southampton received a three-year jail sentence.

The protest on 2 June took place after police bodycam footage was released showing Nowak, 18, handcuffed as he lay dying after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, 23, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years.

Twelve police officers and a police dog were injured in the disorder as missiles including wheelie bins and chairs were thrown.

Judge William Mousley KC, who had also precided over Digwa's trial, told Southampton Crown Court that the violence was a "hate crime, borne out of hatred of the police and in some cases racist views".

The court heard father-of-two Daniel Frost, originally from Cornwall, admitted possessing a dog lead with a metal carabiner as an offensive weapon, during the disorder.

The judge said Frost threw two chairs and a bin into the road and carried a dog lead which had been adapted to use as an offensive weapon.

The court heard the defendant had later referred to the incident as "today's fun" and a "big party".

Reece Robinson's defence lawyer, Bridget O'Hagan, said he had a "completely clear record, not even a parking ticket".

Judge Mousley said Robinson had "brought shame" on his family as the court heard he was at the front of the crowd, close to the police cordon and threw two stones or bricks at officers.

Prosecutor Siobhan Linsley told the court Andrew Summerhayes, who had 25 previous convictions for 45 offences, "rammed" a large bin into the police.

His defence said he had a two-year-old daughter "who benefits from a close and active relationship with her father".

Judge Mousley said he was "at the forefront of serious public disorder".

The court heard Taylor Grundy had two previous convictions and was currently under a community order for driving while disqualified and having no insurance.

Video played in court, showed him sitting on top of a wall before disappearing, apparently to pick up pieces of wood and throw them at police, the prosecutor said.

Linsley added that he also pushed a communal wheelie bin towards officers in a separate incident.

Dillon Crawford, was described as "enthusiastically and aggressively" pushing his way to the front of the crowd to get to retreating police in Belmont Road.