Leon O’Leary And Connor Bishop Jailed For Violent Disorder At Henry Nowak Protest In Southampton

Two men, Leon O’Leary, 41, and Connor Bishop, 24, were jailed for violent disorder at a protest in Southampton following the murder of Henry Nowak.

“- Published Two men have been jailed for violent disorder at a protest in Southampton following the murder of Henry Nowak”

BBC

O’Leary was sentenced to three years and one month after throwing a smoke grenade at police, and he also admitted possession of an offensive weapon, a samurai sword that police found in his bedroom when they went to arrest him.

BBC

Bishop was jailed for two years and eight months after hurling a traffic cone at officers, and both men pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a previous hearing.

The BBC said the violence on 2 June left 12 police officers and a police dog injured as missiles including wheelie bins and chairs were thrown, and it said 21 people were charged in connection with the disorder.

In court footage shown at Southampton Crown Court, O’Leary was described as “walking casually” in the crowd in front of a police cordon before picking up a smoke grenade and throwing it towards police.

The BBC reported that O’Leary adopted a “fighting stance” at the top of the stairs when officers went to arrest him at his home in Basingstoke at 3.30am on 7 June, and it said officers had to use pava spray to subdue him.

Daily Echo

Prosecutor Siobhan Linsley told the court that Bishop was seen carrying a yellow traffic cone which he threw towards officers, and she said: “Once it’s thrown he then follows it again, picks it up again.”

The BBC also said Bishop admitted throwing a box of screws and punching a wall which was not captured on footage, and it reported he answered “no comment” when arrested on 3 June before accepting he was there when shown footage.

The BBC said the protests caused “fear, distress and disruption to members of the public and substantial cost to the public purse,” and it reported that the events led to significant damage to property and cars in the area.

“Two men have been jailed for violent disorder at a protest in Southampton following the death of Henry Nowak”

Radio Royal

As part of the prosecution, the BBC reported that Linsley read out statements including one from British Transport Police officer Ruby Stevenson, who said: “I didn't think I was going to make it out alive or without serious injury.”

The BBC said the protests cost police £443,000 in staffing and accommodation, and it added that Southampton City Council had paid £6,700 to deal with the fallout of the event.

It also said the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the force's response after police bodycam footage showed Henry Nowak handcuffed as he lay dying after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, 23, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years.