A 44-year-old man has pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possessing a dog lead with a metal carabiner as an offensive weapon following protests in Southampton in the wake of the murder of Henry Nowak.
Daniel Frost, of Northam Road, Southampton, appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court where he entered guilty pleas to the disorder offence and possessing a dog lead with a metal carabiner attached.
Prosector Nola Bond told the court Frost had thrown dustbins and a chair at police officers during the protest in the Portswood area.
She also stated: “He had around his neck a dog lead with a carabiner and wrapped it around his knuckles and taunted police officers to come and take it off him.”
District Judge Anthony Callaway sent the case to be sentenced at the city’s crown court after telling the court the offences were too serious for the powers of the magistrates’ court.
He remanded the defendant in custody and ordered a pre-sentence report for the sentencing hearing to be held at the crown court on 16 July.
He told the court: “Daniel Frost, a 44-year-old man, comes to this court today and faces two separate matters arising out of the same circumstances of violent disorder on 2 June and that is alleged to have arisen out of the recent demonstration in the Portswood area in relation to the death of a particular subject, and that matter is the subject of a crown court trial recently concluded.
“The second offence is possession of an offensive weapon. Mr Frost has pleaded guilty to both of these matters and it seems to this court any sentence would be way out of the powers of this court. The matter will go to Southampton Crown Court.”
The court was told that Frost had previously received 25 convictions for 55 offences, including an offence against the person in 2001, four public disorder offences between 2006 and 2011, offences of failing to surrender in 1999 and 2008, possession of a bladed article in 2009 and threatening and abusive behaviour in 2010 and 2011.
Oliver O’Connor, defending, said Frost had two children but lived alone with his dog.
He said: “He is at pains to tell the court of his shame of his involvement, one of the biggest regrets in his life.
“He is a vulnerable man, he is in receipt of PIP (personal independence payment) as a result of a serious fall he had leading to a hip replacement.”
The protest followed the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, 23, to life imprisonment to serve a minimum of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old Mr Nowak in December.
Anger erupted after police body-worn video was released showing Mr Nowak being placed in handcuffs moments before he became unconscious and subsequently died.
The trial heard that Digwa had lied to police attending the scene by saying he had been racially abused by Mr Nowak and denying he had stabbed him.
