Vickrum Digwa, the man convicted of murdering 18-year-old Henry Nowak, is reportedly terrified of being attacked in prison and has refused to leave his cell at HMP Frankland, according to a former inmate who knows the facility well. Ricky Killeen, who previously served time at the high-security prison where double child-killer Ian Huntley was murdered last year, has outlined the grim reality awaiting Digwa behind bars.
Digwa refuses to leave cell amid safety fears
Last week, prison insiders revealed that Digwa, who is serving a minimum term of 21 years for the murder, has been cowering in his cell and rejecting attempts to move him onto a regular wing with some of Britain's most dangerous criminals. The cowardly murderer had lied to police about being racially attacked by his victim, a claim that has since been debunked and sparked widespread anger.
Speaking on his Behind Bars TV channel on YouTube, Killeen theorised that Digwa would have heard "rumours" about HMP Frankland, located in the north of England, far from his home in Southampton. "He's probably refused (to move to the wing) because he's scared. And also because he'll have heard rumours about HMP Frankland, because anybody that comes from this, the deep south, shall we say, right at the bottom of the country, down Southampton, where London, where places like that, they hear horror stories about HMP Frankland because it's up in the north," Killeen said.
Former inmate details Digwa's fears
Killeen continued: "And they think, 'S**t, I don't want to be there', and he'll not want to be all the way up there. He's at the furthest prison away from his family. The furthest prison north, which is a high-security prison. And he'll not like it. He'll be terrified. Well, he is. He's terrified." The former inmate's comments paint a picture of a man isolated and fearful, far from any support network, and facing the reality of life among some of the UK's most notorious offenders.
Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years on June 1 for the murder of Henry Nowak in Southampton. The attack occurred after Nowak was on his way home from a night out. Digwa falsely claimed he had been racially abused by his victim, a claim that was later found to be untrue and led to public outrage.
Body-worn video fuels anger
Anger erupted after a three-minute police body-worn video was released showing Nowak, from Chafford Hundred, Essex, being placed in handcuffs moments before he became unconscious and subsequently died. In the footage, Digwa tells the officer: "I was literally just walking in and I've seen her. He's then barged into me. I kinda said to him, 'Clearly, you're drunk'. I could smell, like you can smell the alcohol." He goes on to say that Nowak called him a racial slur before saying to Digwa that he was a "bad man" and Digwa responding "Yeah, I'm a bad man" as Nowak started recording him.
Digwa continues in the video: "Obviously, then I just push him away, he's then grabbed me, then started grabbing my turban and pulled my hair, started grabbing my hair, he was, like, punching me and all that sort of stuff." The footage contradicted Digwa's claims of being the victim of a racial attack, leading to widespread condemnation.
Life at HMP Frankland
HMP Frankland is a high-security prison in County Durham, known for housing some of the UK's most dangerous criminals, including terrorists and murderers. The prison gained notoriety after Ian Huntley, the double child-killer, was murdered there last year. Inmates like Digwa, who are perceived as vulnerable or have committed crimes that attract particular hatred, often face threats from other prisoners.
Killeen's insights suggest that Digwa's refusal to integrate into the general prison population is driven by a genuine fear for his life. The killer's fate, as outlined by the former inmate, is one of isolation, terror, and a constant threat of violence, a grim comeuppance for the man who took Henry Nowak's life and then tried to smear his memory with false accusations.
