Henry Nowak Killer's 'lenient' 21-year Jail Term Sent To The Court Of Appeal

Undated handout file photo originally issued on 07/12/25 by Hampshire Police of Henry Nowak. Sikh man Vickrum Digwa has been jailed at Southampton Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak. Digwa stabbed Henry to death with a Sikh kirpan ceremonial knife five times in the incident in Belmont Road, Southampton, on December 3 2025. Issue date: Monday June 01, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Hampshire Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — Protests erupted after the murder of Henry Nowak. (Picture: Hampshire Police/PA Wire)

The Government has referred the sentence of Henry Nowak’s killer to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient scheme.

The 18-year-old student was handcuffed by police officers who ignored his pleas that he had been stabbed as he lay dying after his killer, Vickrum Digwa, claimed to have been the victim of a racist attack.

Solicitor General Ellie Reeves said the case ‘horrified’ her after riots tore through Southampton when body worn camera footage of Henry dying was released.

Ms Reeves said: ‘It is now, rightly, for the court to decide whether to increase the sentence.

‘No sentence can ever undo the devastation that Henry’s family have suffered, or fill the void left by his loss. But I hope this referral goes some way towards bringing them the justice they so rightly deserve.’

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She added: ‘This case horrified me, and I know that feeling is shared by the British public.

‘It is right that difficult questions need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry’s Nowak’s murder, while my role is to review Digwa’s sentence for his crimes.’

Undated handout file photo originally issued on 28/05/26 by Hampshire Police of Sikh man Vickrum Digwa who has been jailed at Southampton Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak. Digwa stabbed Henry to death with a Sikh kirpan ceremonial knife five times in the incident in Belmont Road, Southampton, on December 3 2025. Issue date: Monday June 01, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Hampshire Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — Digwa stabbed Henry Nowak five times in the incident in Belmont Road, Southampton, on December 3 (Picture: Hampshire Police/PA Wire)

The Court of Appeal will now decide whether the sentence imposed was unduly lenient, and whether to increase the life sentence.

Digwa repeatedly lied, saying that he had been the victim of a racist attack, leading to Henry being arrested.

When Henry told officers he had been stabbed, one said: ‘I don’t think you have, mate.’

Hampshire Police has apologised to his family, who called his treatment ‘inhumane and degrading’ and said they would be carrying their grief ‘every single day’.

Undated handout photo issued by the Crown Prosecution Service of the murder weapon used by Vickrum Digwa who has been jailed at Southampton Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak. Digwa stabbed Henry to death with a Sikh kirpan ceremonial knife five times in the incident in Belmont Road, Southampton, on December 3 2025. Issue date: Monday June 01, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: CPS/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — Weapon’s obsessed Digwa stabbed Henry to death with a ceremonial knife before lying to police that he was the victim (Picture: CPS/PA Wire)

A police officer involved in the arrest has now quit, Hampshire Police said, and three others continue to serve. Another who was not involved was forced into hiding after being wrongly identified.

Police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, is reviewing Hampshire Police’s response to the call.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs she expected to see its report within three months.

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