Abuse hurled at judge as first group of rioters sentenced for Ely disorder
Abuse hurled at judge as first group of rioters sentenced for Ely disorder
Abuse hurled at judge as first - Three years after a violent clash in Cardiff’s Ely area sparked widespread unrest, five individuals involved in the chaos were sentenced in court. The incident, which led to the deaths of Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, occurred on May 22, 2023, following an e-bike crash that ignited hours of rioting and vandalism. Around 150 people gathered to participate in the disorder, which left authorities scrambling to restore calm.
Public gallery erupts during sentencing
As the first defendant, Ashdon O’Dare, 28, was led to the dock, spectators in the public gallery began shouting, creating a scene of disorder. When Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke requested silence, one individual gestured contemptuously, while another hurled an insult at the bench. The judge promptly ordered the two men to be detained for their behavior.
Sentencing reveals roles in the riots
O’Dare received a six-year-and-six-month sentence, labeled an "instigator" who "whipped up" the crowd during the early stages of the violence. Lee Robinson, 40, from Caerau, was also given six years and six months for his aggressive conduct and repeated taunts at police. Michaela Gonzales, 37, from Ely, faced five years and two months for hurling a bottle at officers. Jordan Bratcher, 27, and Tyler Stapleton, 26, both from Ely, were sentenced to five years and six months, and four years and four months respectively, for their involvement in the initial attacks.
Footage captures escalation of conflict
During the sentencing, previously shown trial footage was replayed, detailing the sequence of events. The clips highlighted how tensions rose rapidly, starting with a masked man throwing a bottle at police by 19:55. By 20:30, officers adopted a "show of strength" approach, raising batons and pushing crowds along the road—a pivotal moment that triggered the violence. The footage also captured a petrol bomb striking PC Zoe Lea, igniting her uniform. “I knew if I tried to tackle it, I would be vulnerable,” she recounted in court.
Costs and consequences of the unrest
PC Ben Davies, among the first to arrive at the scene, told the court he “genuinely believed we would be overwhelmed and killed” that night. The riots cost South Wales Police over £1m in operational expenses, while Cardiff council spent £28,515 on cleanup efforts. Earlier, ten teenagers had been sentenced for their roles in the unrest, all receiving community-based referrals. The remaining 30 defendants will face sentencing in the coming days.
“I felt the heat of my overalls burning.”
“Genuinely believed we would be overwhelmed and killed.”