A TOTAL of 31 people are appearing in court charged with offences related to the riots in Ely, Cardiff, which erupted following the deaths of two teenagers in May 2023. The unrest took place on the evening of 22 May last year after 16-year-old Kyrees Sullivan and 15-year-old Harvey Evans were killed in a crash while riding an e-bike in the area. Tensions flared when footage emerged showing a police van pursuing the two teenagers moments before the fatal collision.
The deaths of Kyrees and Harvey sparked widespread violence and vandalism, with crowds gathering in Ely to express their anger. An initial group of around 150 people soon grew to 200, many of whom clashed with police. Cars were torched, and missiles, including rocks, fireworks, and even bed frames, were thrown at officers as the unrest escalated on Snowden Road and Stanway Road, near the site of the crash. The rioting continued late into the night, with the crowd finally dispersing in the early hours of 23 May. In the aftermath, 32 police officers were injured, and significant damage was caused to vehicles and property.
The defendants, many of them local residents, face a range of charges linked to the riots, with 27 people charged with rioting, while others face accusations of threatening to cause criminal damage and criminal damage itself. During court proceedings at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, the Crown’s case was outlined, stating that each defendant played a role in the disorder, though the exact nature of their involvement would be determined at trial.
The riots were ignited by growing hostility from the public as police officers attended the scene of the crash involving Kyrees and Harvey. Rumours that the police had been pursuing the boys before the collision fuelled anger, leading to a breakdown of order in the community. Officers at the scene were initially confronted by restless members of the public, and the situation quickly escalated into widespread rioting. Items such as rocks and fireworks were hurled at police, and several vehicles were flipped and set ablaze. One officer was hit by a petrol bomb but escaped without serious injury due to protective gear.
Several defendants have already appeared in court, with many sent to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on 21 October for further hearings. Among those in the dock was Jordan Bratcher, who pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and received a conditional discharge but will face further proceedings for rioting. Other defendants, including 26-year-old Ashdon O’Dare, who arrived in court wearing a football shirt with the names and images of Kyrees and Harvey, are facing similar charges of rioting and will also appear in Crown Court later in the year.
The incident has drawn significant attention, not only due to the tragic loss of two young lives but also because of the scrutiny placed on South Wales Police in the wake of the crash. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been investigating the actions of the officers involved, particularly in relation to the pursuit of the boys, and that inquiry is now nearing its conclusion. A second IOPC investigation, launched after complaints were raised by the families of Kyrees and Harvey, is also expected to be finalised soon.
As court proceedings continue, the community remains shaken by the events of that night. The defendants, ranging in age from teenagers to those in their thirties, now face the possibility of lengthy legal battles as their cases are heard in Cardiff Crown Court. Meanwhile, the families of Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans continue to seek answers about the events leading up to the crash that claimed the lives of their loved ones.
Appearing in court were:
- Lianna Tucker, 18, from Ely
- Michaela Gonzales, 26, from Ely
- Jaydan Baston, 20, from Caerau
- Harvey James, 18, from Fairwater
- Jumana Fouad, 18, from Ely
- Jordan Webster, 28, from Ely
- Kieron Beccano, 25, from St Fagans
- Luke Williams, 30, from Ely
- Jayden Westcott, 20, from Ely
- Zayne Farrugia, 24, from Caerau
- Kyle Telemaque, 18, from Ely
- Connor O’Sullivan, 25, from Caerau
- Callum O’Sullivan, 23, from Ely
- Ashdon O’Dare, 26 from Ely
- Jordan Bratcher, 26 from Llanishen
- Jamie Jones, 23 from Llanrumney
- McKenzie Danks, 21 from Caerau
