A Sikh worshipper has claimed that Vickrum Digwa, the man convicted of murdering Southampton student Henry Nowak, threatened him at a Southampton gurudwara months before the fatal stabbing attack.The allegations emerged days after Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for killing 18-year-old Henry Nowak in December 2025. The court heard Digwa used a large dagger while carrying weapons associated with the Nihang Sikh tradition. His claim that he had been racially abused by Nowak was rejected during the trial.A 25-year-old worshipper, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Times that Digwa confronted him inside Gurdwara Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib in Southampton in May 2025. He said Digwa approached him, grabbed his arm and attempted to draw him into a discussion outside the gurdwara before elders intervened.The worshipper claimed the incident was one of several encounters involving Digwa and younger members of the congregation. He alleged that some worshippers were challenged over their appearance, religious observance and the way they wore their turbans.“It was almost like he was interrogating you to see if you were good enough to be within the gurdwara,” the man said. According to the worshipper, gurdwara leaders later raised concerns with Digwa’s parents. He claimed they defended their son and dismissed complaints about his behaviour. These allegations have not been independently verified.The account adds to concerns within Southampton’s Sikh community following Digwa’s conviction. Several worshippers said his presence was intimidating and believed his conduct was at odds with the faith’s values.Digwa, who belongs to the Nihang order of Sikhism, had previously attended another Southampton gurdwara before moving to the one on St Mark’s Road. A source at Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar told The Times that Digwa had been barred from attending in 2023 due to concerns about his behaviour.The source described him as aggressive and said the gurdwara had quickly decided he was no longer welcome. The allegations have not been tested in court.Some gurdwara elders were said to have expressed concern about Digwa frequently travelling into Southampton city centre while carrying traditional weapons associated with the Nihang order.Digwa was born in 2003 and raised in Southampton by his British-born father, Moga Singh, who previously ran a valeting business, and his Indian-born mother, a housewife. Reports say his parents married in India in 1995 in an arranged marriage before moving to Britain. Digwa later attended Saint George Catholic College.Reflecting on the months before the killing, the worshipper said he later began attending different gurdwaras to avoid crossing paths with Digwa.Looking back after Nowak’s death, he said he realised how close he had come to an individual who would later be convicted of murder.“I was in the same scenario, but I managed to get out of it. Henry couldn’t.”
