Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 19
Ely Rioters Get Nearly 140 Years for 2023 Violence, Including Petrol Bomb Attack
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 19

Ely Rioters Get Nearly 140 Years for 2023 Violence, Including Petrol Bomb Attack

2 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 19

Summary

  • Thirty people were sentenced this week over the May 2023 Ely riots in Cardiff, with 26 receiving jail terms totaling nearly 140 years and four who were under 18 at the time given community orders.
  • Cardiff Crown Court heard one petrol bomb set a female police officer on fire, while other defendants threw fireworks, bricks, doors and burning objects at officers and helped overturn or torch vehicles.
  • Seven defendants sentenced Friday were all convicted of rioting, with terms ranging from 3 years and 8 months to 6 years and 9 months; Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said some had played leading roles.
  • The disorder erupted after the deaths of teenagers Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, whose e-bike crashed after a police van had been seen behind them, drawing about 150 people to Ely.
  • The case remains tied to wider scrutiny of the crash: a full inquest has yet to begin, and a CPS decision not to charge the van driver is under review while the officer also faces misconduct proceedings.

Insights

Rioters are jailed for nearly 140 years, but will the police officer involved face any consequences?
The Ely riot sentences address the violence, but what is being done to fix the community's broken trust?

After the Ely E-Bike Crash: 40 Charged, £1m Police Costs, and the Struggle for Justice and Community Healing in Cardiff

Overview

The Ely riots in May 2023 erupted after a tragic crash, leading to widespread unrest, significant property damage, and over 40 people being charged. The aftermath saw South Wales Police facing costs over £1 million and Cardiff council handling a major clean-up. By June 2026, most legal proceedings had concluded, but independent investigations into the incident that sparked the riots are still ongoing. These investigations, along with future inquest proceedings, aim to provide answers and clarity for the community, highlighting the importance of accountability and the need to address underlying issues that contributed to the unrest.

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