Convicted murderer Vickrum Digwa is being held in segregation at HMP Frankland in County Durham after refusing to relocate to A-wing, the same wing where child killer Ian Huntley was fatally attacked earlier this year. The 23-year-old, who fatally stabbed 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton, is reportedly spending up to 23 hours daily isolated in his cell, only leaving under tight supervision by four prison officers for his daily exercise period.
Fear for His Safety
An insider revealed that Digwa declined relocation to A-wing after discovering it was where Huntley had been killed. The insider explained: "He is there because he is terrified and refused to locate to a wing. He was told he was going on to A-wing and he knew it was where Huntley was killed - and said 'No'. He said he could not be kept safely on there, which is accurate as there is already talk about him around the prison. They cannot make him go on to the wing and he could be in 'seg' for a very long time."
Harsh Segregation Conditions
The insider described conditions in the segregation unit as exceptionally severe: "It is really grim. Inmates are given a really small wind-up radio and you can read books and that's about it. You get taken out for an hour at the same time as three other cons but, even then, the exercise yard is split into four and you cannot mix. And he has to have all the prison-issue food in his cell, which is pretty grim. Most inmates on seg end up pacing around their cell or shouting out of the window. It is the sort of regime that will drive you mad."
Digwa has been stripped of standard prison privileges, including access to a television. He received a life sentence in May with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of Henry Nowak in December 2025. The sentence is currently under appeal on grounds of being unduly lenient.
Background and Prison Notoriety
Previously detained at HMP Winchester, Digwa was moved to Frankland, nicknamed "Monster Mansion" due to its high-profile and dangerous inmates. The facility has housed infamous convicts such as Ian Huntley, who suffered a fatal assault at the prison earlier this year. Frankland has also seen other grave incidents, including an assault on staff by Manchester Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi and violent episodes involving quadruple murderer Damien Bendall.
A Prison Service spokesperson declined to comment on individual prisoners.
