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