Abuse hurled at judge as first group of rioters sentenced for Ely disorder
2 hours ago
Nelli Bird BBC Wales, Cardiff Crown Court
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The first group of rioters have been sentenced for their part in the Ely disorder three years ago
Angry scenes broke out in court when a group of rioters were sentenced for violence in Cardiff three years ago.
Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died on 22 May 2023 after their e-bike crashed in the Ely area of Cardiff, sparking hours of violence and vandalism with about 150 people turning up to riot.
On Wednesday, nine people in the first group of defendants to be sentenced were told they would serve up to 40% of their terms in custody, with the remainder in the community.
The longest sentence given was for six years and six months.
After the first sentence was delivered, members of the public gallery started shouting, causing disruption in court.
Warning: This story contains offensive language
South Wales Police
O'Dare and Robinson (top row, left to right) and Gonzales, Bratcher and Stapleton (bottom row, left to right) were sentenced on Wednesday
When it was clear that one of the defendants, Harvey James, had avoided a jail term, applause broke out in the court and Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke asked for the public gallery to be cleared.
"This is not entertainment, this is a sentencing exercise. Leave the court," she said.
James, 20, from Fairwater, was 17 at the time of the riots when he confronted police and threw a rock at officers.
He was given a 24-month community order and 20 days rehabilitation, in line with others who were sentenced in the youth court.
South Wales Police
Baston and Pring (top row, left to right) and Beccano and Williams (bottom row, left to right) were also sentenced
On Wednesday morning, Ashdon O'Dare, 28, from Ely, was handed a sentence of six years and six months. He was described as an "instigator" who "whipped up" the crowd in the early stage of the riots.
Lee Robinson, 40, from Caerau, was also sentenced to six years and six months. He was aggressive and repeatedly shouted abuse at police officers on the night of the disorder, the court heard.
Michaela Gonzales, 37, from Ely, was sentenced to five years and two months. The court heard she was "vocal and confrontational" and threw a bottle at police in the early stages of the riot.
Jordan Bratcher, 27, from Ely, was sentenced to five years and six months for being "part of the initial group who were throwing missiles at police".
Tyler Stapleton, 26, from Ely, was sentenced to four years and four months - he was one of the people who were aggressive towards police and threw stones.
Family photos
Kyrees Sullivan (left), 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in an e-bike crash in Ely in May 2023
After the first defendant, O'Dare, was sentenced and taken into the dock, people in the public gallery shouted "love you Ash" and gave thumbs up and shouts of support.
When the judge asked them to be quiet, one man in the public gallery appeared to make an offensive, two-fingered gesture at her and another shouted "shut up, you slut".
Lloyd-Clarke asked for the two men to be detained on suspicion of contempt of court.
Applause broke out when Harvey James, pictured here at a previous court hearing, avoided a jail term
Mckenzie Pring, 21, from Caerau, was sentenced to four years detention in a young offenders' institution. He threw a number of missiles at police during the early stages of the riot.
Jaydan Baston, 21, from Caerau, was sentenced to four years and six months in a young offenders' institution. He was part of a group who collected rubble and threw it at officers.
Keiron Beccano, 38, from Ely, was sentenced to five years and six months imprisonment. He collected rubble and threw it at officers for about half an hour.
Luke Williams 32, from Caerau, was sentenced to six years in prison.
He was "vocal and aggressive" and live streamed the violence for an hour and half, the court heard, while cheering when officers were hurt and "encouraging" others to come and join in.
PA
Police bodycam footage was played to the court showing how tensions escalated as officers tried to secure the scene of the crash
During the sentencing, footage which had been played to the jury during the two trials was again shown in court.
It showed a clear timeline of how tensions escalated and the initial bodycam footage which included many people looking upset and bewildered in the moments after the boys crashed.
However, rumours started that police had been chasing the boys before they crashed and, by 19:55, a masked man threw a bottle at officers.
By 20:30, the decision was made to adopt the "show of strength" stance, with officers raising their batons above their heads and driving people up the road - a clear turning point.
People fell, some were hit by police batons, and the abuse of police could be heard with insults including "I hope your kids die" being shouted at officers, the…
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