PCC welcomes Court of Appeal ruling to increase Vickrum Digwa’s sentence for the murder of Henry Nowak

Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Donna Jones has welcomed today’s decision by the Court of Appeal to increase the prison sentence of Vickrum Digwa for murdering Henry Nowak in Southampton last year.

Judges ruled the original sentence for Digwa of 21 years was unduly lenient, and refused Digwa permission to appeal against it.

Vickrum Digwa was convicted of murdering Henry, a young university student who was simply walking home after a night out with friends on 3 December 2025. During the attack, Digwa deprived Henry of any opportunity to summon help, taking away his phone and subjecting him to a prolonged and terrifying ordeal. Digwa used a large, bladed weapon to kill Henry.

The Court increased Vickrum Digwa’s minimum term to 25 years, stating the seriousness of Digwa’s offending must be taken into account, specifically his use of the dagger he carried and the cruelty he inflicted upon Henry.

Following the judgment, Donna Jones said: “This was a horrifying and senseless murder that devastated a loving family.

“As PCC I have consistently said the original sentence wasn’t sufficient to account for the seriousness of Vickrum Digwa’s actions that night. Henry suffered a terrifying ordeal made even more horrifying by Digwa’s deliberate obstruction and humiliation.

“Henry was a young man with his whole future ahead of him. What happened to him was cruel, hostile and utterly heartbreaking.

“Henry’s family will serve a whole life sentence, it is only right Digwa receives the maximum jail term available to the courts.”