Vickrum Digwa has begun serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years following his conviction for the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak in Southampton last year. The 23-year-old was sentenced in June after a two-week trial at Southampton Crown Court, where he was found guilty of fatally stabbing Nowak in the chest and back during an altercation in December 2025.

Following the stabbing, Digwa fabricated a story portraying himself as a victim of a racist attack, which he relayed to police along with his brother. However, bodycam footage captured Nowak’s dying moments as he pleaded for help. His mother, Kiran Kaur, was also convicted for assisting an offender after removing the murder weapon from the scene. She received a three-year prison sentence and is currently held at HMP Bronzefield, a high-security women’s prison in Surrey.

Kaur, who emigrated from India nearly 30 years ago, was reported to have acted out of a “desire to protect her child,” though the court found her guilty of obstructing justice. Despite serving seven months on remand alongside high-profile inmates such as Lucy Letby and Constance Marten, she may be released by the end of the year due to changes in sentencing rules proposed by the Labour government—though the Ministry of Justice declined to comment on her release date. Nowak’s family expressed deep disappointment at the brevity of her sentence.

Digwa’s imprisonment has been markedly different. After initially being held at Winchester prison following his conviction, he was transferred to HMP Frankland in County Durham, a Category A prison housing some of the country’s most notorious offenders, including terrorist Michael Adebolajo and serial killer Levi Bellfield. Due to concerns for his safety, Digwa initially requested segregation after learning he would be placed on a wing where Soham killer Ian Huntley was previously attacked and killed by a fellow inmate.

Sources indicate that Digwa arrived at Frankland visibly frightened, a stark contrast to his confident demeanor during the murder investigation. He remains under close supervision due to the nature of his crime and his high-profile status, with prison officials noting that his perceived vulnerability could make him a target among inmates. Prison staff have reported that Digwa faces verbal and physical abuse, which is not unusual for individuals convicted of violent crimes involving young victims, particularly in a facility holding extremists and gang-affiliated inmates.

Digwa, who is Sikh, also faces challenges related to standing out due to his religious appearance. Some prisoners at Frankland reportedly seek protection through alliances with Muslim inmate groups, which occasionally involve conversion. Authorities say any such decision would be entirely up to Digwa.

In addition to his life sentence, Digwa is appealing both his conviction and sentence. He is also facing further charges alongside his father, Moga Singh, and brother, Gurpreet Digwa, for possession of an extensive illegal weapons cache discovered at their Southampton home. The trio deny these charges and are scheduled to stand trial in September 2027.

The murder and subsequent legal proceedings have attracted significant public attention and controversy. Far-right commentators sparked demonstrations by framing the case within anti-immigration narratives, despite calls from Nowak’s family not to politicize the tragedy and despite Digwa being born in Britain. Following Digwa’s conviction, tensions in Southampton escalated, forcing family members to leave their home out of safety concerns.

Former prison officials have warned that high-profile prisoners like Digwa, convicted of crimes that ignite public outrage, are at heightened risk in the prison environment. With a growing number of inmates held for terrorism-related offenses exhibiting extremist views on both ends of the spectrum, security concerns remain acute at facilities like Frankland.

As Digwa adapts to life behind bars, he is reportedly focused on maintaining basic privileges, including access to gym facilities and limited educational opportunities, although prison insiders note he has yet to show substantial interest in academic programs. How long he will ultimately remain in prison remains uncertain pending the outcome of ongoing appeals.