Henry Nowak’s murderer is said to be ‘cowering’ in his cell after being moved to the same prison where Ian Huntley was killed.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was transferred from Winchester jail to HMP Frankland, Co Durham this week, a prison dubbed ‘Monster Mansion’ thanks to the reputations of his fellow inmates.
He now joins the likes of murderers Levi Bellfield, a serial killer and rapist known for murdering schoolgirl Milly Dowler, and Wayne Couzens, the former police officer convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing Sarah Everard.
Following his conviction, Digwa has been transferred to the Category A men’s prison – where Soham murderer Huntley was fatally assaulted in February. Another inmate has been charged with his murder.
Knife-obsessed Digwa stabbed Southampton University student Mr Nowak, 18, to death last December with an eight-inch ceremonial dagger.
Digwa, who is a Sikh, did not know his teenage victim, but lied to officers at the scene by claiming Mr Nowak shouted racist abuse, punched him and knocked off his turban.
Mr Nowak was then arrested as he lay covered in his own blood, before dying ‘alone, humiliated and handcuffed’ in police custody.
Earlier this month, Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years, after a jury found him guilty of ‘aggressively pursuing’ Mr Nowak and stabbing him six times – including an 8cm deep chest wound.
Vickrum Digwa is said to be ‘cowering’ in his cell after being moved to the same prison where Ian Huntley was killed
Henry Nowak was arrested on a Southampton street last December after being attacked
HMP Frankland, Co Durham is dubbed ‘Monster Mansion’ thanks to the reputations of the inmates at the Category A Men’s prison
Digwa is said to be an ‘enhanced’ inmate at the prison, meaning he receives £33 a week and has access to gyms, workshops and extra phone calls.
But guards are monitoring him around the clock due to fears he could harm himself – or be targeted by other inmates.
Speaking to The Sun, a source said: ‘He’s cowering in his cell and doesn’t want to mix.
‘He’s already had threats and is aware of what happened to Huntley.
‘He’s in a really bad situation and knows it — not that anyone feels sorry for him.’
News of Digwa’s situation comes as his sentence was referred earlier this week to the Court of Appeal.
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC applied for the jail term given to Digwa to be reconsidered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
She said: ‘This case horrified me, and I know that feeling is shared by the British public.
‘It is right that difficult questions need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry Nowak’s murder, while my role is to review Digwa’s sentence for his crimes.
‘After careful consideration, I have taken the decision to refer this case to the Court of Appeal.
‘No sentence can ever undo the devastation that Henry’s family have suffered, or fill the void left by his loss. But I hope this referral goes some way towards bringing them the justice they deserve.’
Digwa was given a life sentence for stabbing Mr Nowak with a ceremonial knife with a 21cm blade, that he claimed he carried as part of his Sikh religion.
He had previously been investigated by police in 2023 on suspicion of stealing ceremonial blades from a Sikh temple in Southampton but no further action was taken.
Passing sentence at Southampton Crown Court earlier this month, Judge William Mousley pushed back on accusations of racism against Digwa, saying of Mr Nowak: ‘I am sure that Henry said nothing racist.
‘You are the only person to make that claim and it is completely at odds with his previous character.’
Widespread outrage followed the release of police bodycam footage of the student being arrested.
The footage showed Mr Nowak handcuffed as he lay dying after Digwa falsely claimed to be the victim of racism.
Mr Nowak could be heard repeatedly telling officers ‘I can’t breathe,’ before his death.
Daily Mail has contacted the MoJ for comment.
