The man is one of five protesters who have so far been charged by police since the violent protests on Tuesday night
A Henry Nowak protester who threw a traffic cone at police officers today refused to enter a courtroom and instead hid in the cells “crying his eyes out”.
Connor Bishop, 24, was charged with violent disorder after he was caught on video hurling a traffic cone at retreating police officers during the protest in Southampton, Hants, on Tuesday night. Bishop’s lawyer, Will Day, had to enter a guilty plea at Southampton magistrates court on his behalf after the case continued in his absence.
An usher told the court: “He’s refusing to come up from the cells. He’s crying his eyes out.” Bishop, from Southampton, was one of three men who today appeared in court charged with the same offence.
Noah Etherington, 18, pleaded guilty to violent disorder by throwing a brick towards cops, while Reece Robinson, 21, also admitted violent disorder by throwing objects at officers.
All three were part of a mob that turned on riot police officers who were stopping. them from getting to the family home of Henry’s murderer Vickrum Digwa, 23. Describing Bishop’s offence, prosecutor Kevin Lucie told Southampton Magistrates’ Court: “Mr Bishop attended the planned protest at Southampton Central Police Station at 6pm on June 2.
“At first he doesn’t seem to be getting involved but effectively he is seen in later clips when he does become involved. He’s seen in a large group throwing things at retreating police officers.The group were carrying wheelie bins above their heads, some of which were thrown at the police. The suspect can be seen picking up and throwing a traffic cone – that was his involvement.
“He’s been convicted of assault before as well as assaulting police officers. It shows he has no regard for police or emergency workers and will use violence against them. They have all occurred between 2022 and 2025. There is a substantial concern that he will keep offending.”
At Portsmouth magistrates’ court, Noah Etherington pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Prosecutor Graham Heath told the court: “Captured on multiple clips of video footage, [Etherington is] seen close to the police line, encouraging others to become involved in violence before being seen to throw a brick in the direction of police officers.”
He added that Etherington, from Havant, Hants, had several convictions in the youth court, including one for common assault. District Judge Anthony Callaway said that there was no suggestion yet that Etherington was responsible for injuries inflicted to a police dog and 12 officers who attended the protest.
Reece Robinson, also from Havant, also pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Portsmouth magistrates court. Mr Heath said: “This is a case, as you will appreciate, linked with a high profile set of actions. The defendant is one of a number who has been investigated by the police and has been identified by video footage in the Portswood area following the latter part of the unrest, throwing items toward the police.”
Robinson, a groundworker who lives with family, has no previous convictions. Defending, Bridget O’Hagan said: “His reason for attending was curiosity more than anything else. The person known as Tommy Robinson was due to give a speech.”
Ms O’Hagan said Robinson had “no intention” of participating in anything other than a peaceful protest, but “got swept up in the emotion of the event”. She continued: “It’s impossible to say whether these items hit [police] or not.” Ms O’Hagan added Robinson was “deeply ashamed and remorseful for his behaviour”.
All three men were remanded in custody. The next hearings in the protesters’ cases will take place at Southampton Crown Court on June 8 and will be heard by HHJ William Mousley KC, who oversaw Vickrum Digwa’s murder trial.
Their court appearances came a day after two other men appeared in court accused of offences at the same protest, including a dad-of-two who admitted throwing two bins and a chair at police.
Daniel Frost, 44, also admitted wrapping a dog lead around his knuckles before using it to goad officers. Frost pleaded guilty to charges of violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.
The court heard the single dad had 25 previous convictions for 55 offences,including public disorder, possession of a bladed article , threatening and abusive behaviour and burglary with intent to steal, for which he was jailed.Judge Anthony Callaway told Frost, of Southampton, he will appear at the city’scrown court on July 16. While being led from Southampton magistrates court back to the cells, Frost gestured towards the judgeand called out “c***”.
In a separate incident, a man who was charged withassaulting an emergency worker during the trouble pleaded not guilty. The court heard married military veteran Matt Styler, 50, is accused of kicking out at a police sergeant after being ordered to move from a wall he was sitting on.Styler, of Gosport, Hants, was remanded in custody and is due to return to court later this month. The dad-of-three,formerly of the Army’s Parachute Regiment, gave a military salute to a man in the public gallery while being led back to the cells. Officers are examining video evidence from the protests and more arrests are expected.
