A 36-year-old man has admitted to violent disorder after launching a frying pan at police during a protest that erupted in Southampton following the murder of student Henry Nowak. Ryan Atkinson, of Highcliff Avenue, Southampton, entered his guilty plea at Southampton Magistrates' Court, becoming the 22nd person charged in connection with the demonstration.
District Judge Henry Gordon told the court that Atkinson had “picked up a large frying pan and launched it at police” during the disorder. He remanded the defendant in custody to be sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on June 29, adding: “I find there are substantial grounds that if I granted you bail you would commit further offences.”
“Man pleads guilty to throwing frying pan at police during Southampton protest over Henry Nowak murder.”
The protest on June 2 began outside Southampton Central Police Station with about 1,000 people, before hundreds moved to the Portswood area where Henry Nowak was killed. Anger had been ignited by the release of police body-worn video showing the 18-year-old being placed in handcuffs moments before he became unconscious and died. Vickrum Digwa, 23, who lived nearby, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for Nowak’s murder.
During the protest, 13 police officers and a police dog were injured, and a member of the public suffered a broken jaw. The police operation involved 100 officers from nine different areas, costing £443,000, with an additional £7,000 clean-up bill for the local council. So far 10 people have been jailed for their roles in the disorder. Four more men are due to be sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Friday.