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Tensions ran high in the courtroom as the first group of individuals involved in the Ely disorder in Cardiff were sentenced for their roles in the violence that erupted three years ago. The unrest was triggered by the tragic deaths of two teenagers, Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, who died on May 22, 2023, following an e-bike crash in the Ely area. In the aftermath, approximately 150 people took part in rioting, resulting in significant disorder and damage.
On Wednesday, five defendants—Ashdon O’Dare, Lee Robinson, Michaela Gonzales, Jordan Bratcher, and Tyler Stapleton—were handed sentences requiring them to serve up to 40% of their terms in custody, with the remainder to be served under community supervision. Shortly after the first ruling was announced, the courtroom atmosphere became hostile, with members of the public gallery shouting and causing disruptions. The judge had to request quiet, facing abusive language and gestures from some attendees.
Among those sentenced, Ashdon O’Dare, 28, from Ely, received six years and six months and was identified by the court as a key instigator who escalated the situation at the outset of the riot. Lee Robinson, aged 40 and from Caerau, was also sentenced to six years and six months for his aggressive behavior and repeated verbal abuse directed toward police officers during the unrest. Michaela Gonzales, 37, from Ely, got five years and two months after being described as confrontational and having thrown a bottle at officers early on. Jordan Bratcher, 27, from Ely, received five years and six months for participating in the initial attacks on police, while Tyler Stapleton, 26, also from Ely, was sentenced to four years and four months for his role in throwing stones and acting aggressively towards law enforcement.
During sentencing, the court revisited footage previously shown to the jury, illustrating how tensions rapidly escalated following the crash. Early bodycam images captured people’s shock and distress immediately after the incident. Rumors that the police had been pursuing the teenagers before the crash fueled the unrest, culminating in violent acts such as a masked individual throwing a bottle at officers by 19:55. Police escalated their response by 20:30, adopting a “show of strength” approach that involved advancing with batons held overhead to push rioters along the street. This operation marked a significant shift, with disturbances quickly intensifying, including physical confrontations and verbal attacks against the police. Over the following hours, rioting reached levels unseen in Cardiff for decades, with items such as burning mattresses, toilets, tiles, paint tins, bricks, and bottles being used against officers.
One harrowing moment from the footage showed PC Zoe Lea being set on fire by a petrol bomb thrown during the chaos. She described feeling terrified as the flames burned her overalls while acknowledging the danger of attempting to extinguish the fire herself. PC Ben Davies, who was among the first officers at the scene, told the court he genuinely feared they would be overwhelmed and possibly killed during the riot. The financial toll of the policing operation was also revealed, with South Wales Police spending over £1 million and Cardiff council incurring cleanup costs amounting to £28,515. The sentencing process is ongoing, with 30 individuals in total scheduled to be sentenced in the coming days
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