Six more people have been sentenced for their roles in the significant rioting that occurred in Ely, Cardiff, in May 2023. The violence erupted following the fatal e-bike crash involving teenagers Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, leading to hours of widespread unrest and vandalism involving approximately 150 individuals.
During a recent court hearing, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke presided over the second group of defendants, with emotional reactions from the public gallery prompting calls for silence. All six individuals appearing were sentenced for rioting. Zayne Farrugia, 26, from Caerau, received a six-year prison sentence after being identified as one of the first to gather and throw stones at police, launching six missiles at officers during confrontations. Jordan Webster, 30, from Ely, was handed a sentence of five years and seven months for similar actions, including throwing stones and pushing a debris-filled shopping trolley towards police. He was also heard making incendiary comments when a vehicle was used to block officers.
Jamie Jones, 25, from Llanrumney, despite arriving later, was sentenced to five years and two months for gathering and throwing multiple items, including a food waste bin, at police. Jayden Westcott, 21, from Ely, received an identical sentence of five years and two months. Westcott was observed throwing missiles, filming officers, and being verbally abusive, reportedly stating, "A fed [police officer] is dying tonight" upon arrest, and urging the crowd to push a rubble-filled trolley towards police.
Two younger defendants, Lianna Tucker, 20, and Jumana Fouad, 19, both from Ely, avoided immediate custodial sentences. Tucker, who was 17 at the time and at the front of the crowd throwing objects like plasterboard, received a 24-month community order with a requirement for 25 days of rehabilitation activities. She attributed her actions to anger over the teenagers' deaths, having been told that "police had killed the boys." Fouad, 16 at the time, also received a 24-month community order with 15 days of rehabilitation for throwing rocks, one of which struck an officer's shield, and was seen adding liquid to a burning mattress and celebrating an injured officer.
The court was shown footage previously presented to juries, illustrating the rapid escalation of events. Initial bodycam footage depicted a bewildered and upset crowd immediately after the crash. However, false rumours quickly circulated that police had been chasing the teenagers. Tensions escalated significantly when a masked man threw a bottle at officers, leading to a police decision to adopt a "show of strength" stance, which involved officers raising batons and driving people back. This moment marked a turning point, with shouts of abuse, including extreme insults, directed at officers, and the subsequent hours witnessing severe rioting where various household items were used as projectiles.
Source: Court proceedings