Donna Jones says decision to increase Vickrum Digwa’s prison sentence is ‘only right’ as Henry Nowak's family face 'whole life sentence'

The Police and Crime Commissioner has said the decision to increase Vickrum Digwa’s prison sentence for killing Henry Nowak is ‘only right’.

Judges at the Court of Appeal have ruled the original 21 year sentence for Digwa was “unduly lenient” after the 23-year-old stabbed the Southampton student to death last year.

Vickrum Digwa was convicted of murdering Henry, who was simply walking home after a night out with friends on December 3, 2025. During the attack, Digwa used a large, bladed weapon to kill Henry and accused the student of racially abusing him when speaking to police.

Digwa also sought to challenge the sentence as “manifestly excessive”.

Following the hearing outcome, Donna Jones said: "This was a horrifying and senseless murder that has 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 heart-breaking.

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