Two men have been jailed for their roles in violent disorder that erupted at a protest in Southampton following the murder of Henry Nowak. Connor Bishop, 24, was sentenced to two years and eight months, while Leon O'Leary, 41, received a three-year and one-month sentence. Both pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a previous hearing.

These sentences mark the first convictions stemming from a protest on June 2, during which violence led to 12 police officers and a police dog sustaining injuries. Missiles, including wheelie bins and chairs, were reportedly thrown at law enforcement. The protest occurred after the release of police bodycam footage showing Nowak, 18, handcuffed while he was dying, having been stabbed.

The court heard details of the violence, with footage showing O'Leary throwing a smoke grenade towards police. He also admitted to resisting arrest and possessing an offensive weapon, a samurai sword found in his bedroom. Bishop was observed in footage wearing a jumper with the slogan "boys get sad too" and carrying a yellow object.

This disorder followed the stabbing of Henry Nowak by Vickrum Digwa, 23. Digwa was later jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years. The situation was exacerbated by Digwa's actions at the scene, where he reportedly lied to police, claiming to be the victim of a racist attack, leading to Nowak's arrest instead of his own.

A total of 21 individuals, including Bishop and O'Leary, have been charged in connection with the unrest. The protest initially began outside the city centre police station before a crowd moved to a location near the Digwa family home. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has initiated an investigation into the police force's handling of the incident.

During his arrest, O'Leary reportedly adopted a fighting stance and threatened officers, who then used pava spray to subdue him. He stated the samurai sword was decorative and he was unaware of changes in law regarding its ownership. The court heard he had owned the sword for 20 years.

Nowak's family has publicly condemned the scenes of violence that took place in Southampton. The events have raised questions about the management of protests and the conduct of individuals involved following a tragic event.

Further legal proceedings are expected for the remaining individuals charged in connection with the disorder. The ongoing IOPC investigation aims to scrutinize the police response to the initial incident and subsequent protest.