Four plead guilty to violent disorder after Southampton protests left eleven police officers injured

Four people have pleaded guilty to charges of violent disorder after police were attacked during protests in response to the death of student Henry Nowak earlier in the week.

11 Hampshire police officers and a police dog were injured by missiles, including wheelie bins and chairs, thrown in Southampton on Tuesday.

Harry Varney, 34, of Briarswood, Southampton; Taylor Grundy, 22, from Gosport; Dillon Crawford, 29, of Wilton Avenue, Southampton; and Andrew Summerhayes, 38, of Banning Street, Romsey, appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

All admitted violent disorder and Summerhayes also pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Video footage of Mr. Nowak, 18, being handcuffed as he lay dying by police officers who ignored him as he said he had been stabbed and couldn’t breathe, sparked heavy criticism.

He had suffered excruciating stab wounds inflicted by Vickrum Digwa, who lied to the police about being the victim of a racist attack and pretended not to harm Mr Nowak, who was in fact fatally wounded.

Prosecutor Robert Salame told the court Crawford was said to have used “large items, including bins and chairs” against officers, while Summerhayes was alleged to have thrown items, including bins, at officers.

Mr Salame said Varney was accused of refusing to move and pushing his shields away when asked by police officers.

Grundy is accused of driving a “large, industrial dumpster” toward officers, the prosecutor said.

The four defendants spoke from the stand to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth and were remanded in custody to appear at Southampton Crown Court on Wednesday.

At a separate hearing, Kevin Reeves, 31, of Portswood Road, Southampton, and Andrew Riddett, 38, of Seacombe Green, Southampton, pleaded no contest to charges of violent disorder.

Mr. Salame said Reeves was accused of using “traffic cones and other large objects” against police officers during the protest and encouraging others to use those “large objects.”

He added that Riddett was accused of spitting at a police officer during the protest, engaging in aggression and inciting others to commit violence against police officers.

Reeves and Riddett were also remanded in custody to appear at Southampton Crown Court on Wednesday.