A 36-year-old man has pleaded guilty to violent disorder after a protest in Southampton over the murder of Henry Nowak led to clashes with police.

Ryan Atkinson, of Highcliff Avenue, Southampton, is the 22nd person charged over the demonstration.

District Judge Henry Gordon told Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Friday that Atkinson had “picked up a large frying pan and launched it at police” during the disorder.

The protest came after the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak.

Vickrum Digwa, 23, was convicted of the murder and given a life sentence earlier this month, with a minimum term of 21 years in prison.

Anger erupted after the trial, when police body-worn video footage was released showing the dying victim being handcuffed, following a false accusation from Digwa that he was racially abusive.

Remanding him into custody, the judge told Atkinson: “I find there are substantial grounds that if I granted you bail you would commit further offences.”

His sentencing has been scheduled for 29 June at Southampton Crown Court.

So far, 10 people have been jailed following the 1,000-strong demonstration on 2 June.

The crowd originally gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station before a smaller crowd moved to the Portswood area, where the violence started.

The court hearings have been told that 13 police officers and a police dog were injured in the protest, and a member of the public suffered a broken jaw.

The police operation involved 100 officers from nine different areas, costing £443,000, with a clean-up cost to the local council of £7,000, the court heard.

Moments after being placed in handcuffs, Mr Nowak became unconscious and subsequently died.

Digwa, who lived on a nearby road with his family, had fatally stabbed him.

Four more men are set to be sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Friday for their parts in the disorder.

“He Wasn’t Just a Friend, He Was My Little Brother”

Addressing the court directly before his remand, a visibly shaken Atkinson rejected the media’s characterization of him as a mindless, opportunistic rioter. Instead, he detailed a multi-year, deeply rooted friendship with 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, describing himself as a protective, older-brother figure to the slain teenager.

Atkinson provided the court with a rare, intimate look into Henry’s life outside of his tragic death, sharing stories of their shared bond:

• The Mentor Bond: Atkinson explained that he had taken Henry under his wing years prior, helping him navigate his teenage years, supporting his academic ambitions, and acting as a constant emotional anchor for the young student.

• The Shared Dreams: He described Henry as a brilliant, incredibly gentle young soul who frequently visited his home, talking passionately about his future university plans and his desire to make his family proud.

• The Shared Grief: Atkinson noted that the loss left an unfillable void in his life, stating, “Henry spent his final years surrounded by people who loved him fiercely. I was one of them. To me, he wasn’t just a face on a news broadcast. He was the kid who sat at my kitchen table.”