Exclusive:Henry Nowak protest: Havant teenager who pleaded guilty after Southampton riots is sentenced in court
Protests turned violent in Southampton earlier this month over the murder of teenager Henry Nowak.
A teenager who joined a protest that turned violent in Southampton has been sentenced in court.
Over the past month, roughly half a dozen people from Portsmouth and the surrounding area have appeared in Southampton Crown Court for their roles in the Henry Nowak protest.
Today (Tuesday, June 30), Noah Etherington, 18, of Rowbury Road, Havant, stood in the dock for sentencing. The teenager previously pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder.
As previously reported by The News, a protest was staged on Tuesday, June 2, after Vickrum Digwa was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 21 years, for the murder of Southampton teenager Henry Nowak.
Nowak was arrested by police when they arrived on the scene, and was handcuffed as he lay dying in the street. Digwa lied to police, saying he had been the victim of a racist attack, when he had in fact stabbed him in the chest.
The teenager fell unconscious and first aid was delivered, but he did not survive his injuries.
Digwa’s sentence, and the actions of police at the scene of his death - which is being investigated - sparked a protest attended by thousands of people outside Southampton Police Station. The march was initially peaceful, until a spliter group headed towards St Denys Road, where Digwa had previously lived.
It was here that bricks, glass, tree branches and more were thrown at police, while bins were also set alight, all in front of people’s homes. The court heard how Etherington was one of those who joined in with the violence.
Etherington joined the riots alongside a friend, Reece Robinson, who had been travelling back from Poole after finishing work. Robinson, 21 from Soberton Road, Havant, was sentenced to two years in prison.
Sentencing the teenager, Judge William Mousley KC - who also sentenced Digwa on June 1, and has handled the sentencing of others caught up in the riots - opted not to send Etherington to prison, but instead to a young offender insitution, where he will be detained for a year and 10 months.
Etherington must also pay a victim surcharge of £187.