Man pleads guilty after 'launching frying pan' at police during Southampton protest over Henry Nowak murder

A 36-year-old man has pleaded guilty to violent disorder after a protest in Southampton over the murder of Henry Nowak led to clashes with police.

Ryan Atkinson, of Highcliff Avenue, Southampton, is the 22nd person charged over the demonstration.

District Judge Henry Gordon told Southampton Magistrates' Court on Friday that Atkinson had "picked up a large frying pan and launched it at police" during the disorder.

The protest came after the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak.

Vickrum Digwa, 23, was convicted of the murder and given a life sentence earlier this month, with a minimum term of 21 years in prison.

Anger erupted after the trial, when police body-worn video footage was released showing the dying victim being handcuffed, following a false accusation from Digwa that he was racially abusive.

Remanding him into custody, the judge told Atkinson: "I find there are substantial grounds that if I granted you bail you would commit further offences."

His sentencing has been scheduled for 29 June at Southampton Crown Court.

So far, 10 people have been jailed following the 1,000-strong demonstration on 2 June.

The crowd originally gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station before a smaller crowd moved to the Portswood area, where the violence started.

The court hearings have been told that 13 police officers and a police dog were injured in the protest, and a member of the public suffered a broken jaw.

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The police operation involved 100 officers from nine different areas, costing £443,000, with a clean-up cost to the local council of £7,000, the court heard.

Moments after being placed in handcuffs, Mr Nowak became unconscious and subsequently died.

Digwa, who lived on a nearby road with his family, had fatally stabbed him.

Four more men are set to be sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Friday for their parts in the disorder.

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