Henry Nowak’s Killer Vickrum Digwa Is Said to Be ‘Shaking With Fear’ in Britain’s Toughest Prison

Henry Nowak’s killer is reportedly living in fear behind bars after becoming a target inside one of Britain’s toughest prisons. Vickrum Digwa, 23, is now being held at HMP Frankland in County Durham, a high-security prison often referred to as “Monster Mansion” because it houses some of the country’s most dangerous criminals, including murderers and convicted terrorists.

According to reports, Digwa arrived at the prison extremely frightened. A source claimed he was “literally shaking with fear” when he first arrived and looked nothing like the confident man seen during his interactions with police after the killing. The source said Digwa appeared terrified and even feared he might not survive his first night in the prison.

Digwa was transferred to HMP Frankland from HMP Winchester after he was sentenced to life in prison for murdering 18-year-old Southampton University student Henry Nowak. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 21 years before becoming eligible for parole. However, the sentence has attracted public criticism, with many people arguing it was too lenient. As a result, the case is now being reviewed.

After arriving at Frankland, Digwa reportedly spent several weeks in segregation before being moved to a normal prison wing. Even so, prison officers are said to be keeping him under close watch because they believe he could be attacked by other inmates. Reports claim he has been placed on a special monitoring list because of the nature of his crime, his high public profile, and recent violent incidents inside the prison.

A prison source claimed there are inmates who want to attack Digwa, both physically and verbally, simply because of who he is. According to the source, some prisoners see attacking a high-profile murderer as a way of gaining respect and building their reputation among other inmates. The insider also said Digwa’s nervous behaviour has made him appear even more vulnerable.

Former prison governor Vanessa Frake-Harris explained that prisoners involved in high-profile crimes often become targets. She said many inmates have little to lose and may see attacking someone like Digwa as a way to gain status inside the prison. She added that the public anger surrounding Henry Nowak’s murder could continue to follow Digwa throughout his time behind bars.

The murder shocked the country after evidence presented in court showed Henry was simply walking home after a night out in Southampton on December 3 last year when he encountered Digwa. Prosecutors said Digwa was carrying an eight-inch dagger around his neck before stabbing Henry in the chest and then inflicting four more stab wounds, including two in his back as the young student tried to escape.

During the investigation, Digwa claimed he had been the victim of a racist incident and attempted to portray himself as acting in self-defence. However, the court heard that he failed to tell police he had repeatedly stabbed Henry. Body-worn camera footage captured the heartbreaking final moments of Henry’s life, showing him struggling to breathe while pleading for help.

A jury later found Digwa guilty of murder and of possessing a knife in a public place. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years.

The case also led to the conviction of Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur. She was found guilty of helping her son after the murder by removing the knife from the scene and hiding it at the family home. She was sentenced to three years in prison and is currently serving her sentence at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey.

Recently released video from the Crown Prosecution Service showed the moments after the stabbing. In the recording, filmed on Digwa’s own phone, he can be heard speaking to his mother in Punjabi, telling her to take the knife away from the scene. She later carried the weapon back to their home, an action that ultimately led to her own conviction for assisting an offender.

While Digwa and his mother are now imprisoned around 300 miles apart, the case continues to attract public attention. Reports have also suggested that, if proposed sentencing reforms currently being considered were introduced, Kiran Kaur could potentially be released earlier than expected after taking into account the time she has already spent on remand.