Angry scenes erupted in Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday as the first group of rioters were sentenced for the violent disorder that followed the deaths of two teenagers in Ely three years ago. After the first sentence was delivered, members of the public gallery began shouting, forcing Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke to intervene.
Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died on 22 May 2023 when their e‑bike crashed in the Ely area of Cardiff. Their deaths sparked hours of violence and vandalism, with about 150 people turning up to riot. Nine people were sentenced on Wednesday to serve up to 40% of their terms in custody, with the remainder in the community.
“Rioters sentenced for Ely disorder after court erupts in abuse at judge”
When it became clear that one defendant, Harvey James, had avoided a jail term, applause broke out in court. “This is not entertainment, this is a sentencing exercise. Leave the court,” Judge Lloyd-Clarke said, ordering the public gallery cleared. James, 20, from Fairwater, was 17 at the time of the riots and had confronted police, throwing a rock at officers. He was given a 24‑month community order with 20 days rehabilitation, in line with others sentenced in the youth court.
Earlier, Ashdon O’Dare, 28, from Ely, was handed a six‑year‑six‑month sentence. The court heard he was an “instigator” who “whipped up” the crowd in the early stages of the riot. Lee Robinson, 40, from Caerau, also received six years and six months for aggressively shouting abuse at police. Michaela Gonzales, 37, from Ely, was sentenced to five years and two months for being “vocal and confrontational” and throwing a bottle at police.
Jordan Bratcher, 27, from Ely, got five years and six months for being “part of the initial group who were throwing missiles at police”. Tyler Stapleton, 26, from Ely, received four years and four months for aggression and throwing stones. Mckenzie Pring, 21, from Caerau, was sentenced to four years detention in a young offenders’ institution for throwing missiles at police, while Jaydan Baston, 21, from Caerau, got four years and six months.
As O’Dare was taken into the dock after his sentence, people in the public gallery shouted “love you Ash” and gave thumbs‑up. When the judge asked for quiet, one man made an offensive, two‑fingered gesture at her and another shouted “shut up, you slut”. Judge Lloyd-Clarke asked for the two men to be detained on suspicion of contempt of court.