The 23-year-old found guilty of murdering student Henry Nowak has been transferred to HMP Frankland in County Durham, where he is reportedly struggling and living in fear.
Vickrum Digwa, who was sentenced last month for the killing of 18-year-old Henry in Southampton following false claims of a racist attack, was moved from Winchester Prison to the high-security jail.
Although he holds “enhanced” prisoner status, which comes with certain privileges, Digwa is now being closely monitored by staff amid concerns over possible attacks from other inmates or self-harm. He is understood to be under frequent observation due to these risks, and has already been the target of threats from fellow prisoners.
A source told The Sun: “Digwa was okay at Winchester and wanted to stay there, and no prison governor really wanted him. So to say he’s frightened now is an understatement.”
They added: “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.”
Prison officers are carrying out welfare checks every 15 minutes, although this level of monitoring is not expected to continue permanently.
HMP Frankland, sometimes referred to as “Monster Mansion” because of the high-profile offenders held there, houses inmates such as Levi Bellfield and Wayne Couzens.
The prison has also seen a number of serious violent incidents in recent years. Soham murderer Ian Huntley, 52, was killed in February after being attacked with a metal bar by another inmate. In April 2025, Hashem Abedi, one of the Manchester Arena bombers, assaulted three prison officers using improvised weapons and boiling water. The year before, quadruple killer Damien Bendall fatally attacked another prisoner with a claw hammer.
Digwa is also barred from contacting his brother Gurpreet, who is facing weapons charges and previously gave false information to police about Henry’s death. He is similarly prohibited from contacting his mother, Kiran Kaur, who was convicted of assisting an offender.
As an “enhanced” category prisoner—the highest security tier—Digwa receives a weekly allowance of £33, plus access to gym facilities, workshops, and additional phone privileges. His minimum 21-year tariff is currently under appeal on the grounds that it was unduly lenient.
