Six More Sentenced Over Ely Riots – Cardiff 2026

Key Points

• Six more people were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, June 18, 2026, for their roles in the Ely riots that erupted following the deaths of two teenagers
• The riots broke out in May 2023 after Kyrees Sullivan (16) and Harvey Evans (15) died when their e-bike crashed in Ely, sparking hours of violence involving approximately 150 people
• Zayne Farrugia, 26, from Caerau, received a six-year prison sentence for collecting stones from a garden and throwing six projectiles at police
• Jordan Webster, 30, from Ely, was sentenced to five years and seven months for throwing stones at police and blocking the road with a shopping cart filled with debris
• Jamie Jones, 25, from Llanrumney, received five years and two months for gathering items to hurl at police and launching a food waste bin at officers
• Jayden Westcott, 21, from Ely, was given five years and two months; he hurled missiles, recorded footage of officers, and directed verbal abuse at them
• Emotional reactions including gasps and tears erupted in the public gallery, prompting Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke to tell members to listen “in silence” and step outside if they could not control themselves
• Ten other defendants were sentenced on Wednesday at the same court, where disruption from the public gallery led the judge to clear the room
• A total of 30 individuals are expected to face judgment over the coming days as sentencing continues
• Ten teenagers had previously been sentenced for their roles, each receiving a referral order (a form of community sentence)

Cardiff (Cardiff Daily) June 18, 2026 – Six additional individuals have been sentenced for their involvement in a riot that erupted in Cardiff following the tragic deaths of two teenagers, marking the continuation of sentencing proceedings at Cardiff Crown Court that began this week.

On Thursday morning, all six individuals facing charges were each penalized for their involvement in rioting, with the public gallery reacting with gasps when 26-year-old Zayne Farrugia from Caerau was given a six-year sentence.

He was among the initial group to enter a garden to collect stones, subsequently launching six projectiles at law enforcement after joining the line that confronted them.

Jordan Webster, aged 30 from Ely, received a sentence of five years and seven months. He was observed throwing stones at police and obstructing the road with a shopping cart filled with debris intended for use against officers.

The court also noted that Jamie Jones, a 25-year-old from Llanrumney, arrived at the scene later but was one of the many who entered a garden to gather items to hurl at the police.

Jones was sentenced to five years and two months and threw three projectiles in rapid succession before picking up a food waste bin and launching it at the officers.

During the sentencing session, Jayden Westcott, 21, also from Ely, was given a five-year and two-month sentence. Upon his arrest, he reportedly stated, “A fed[police] is tonight”.

Westcott hurled missiles at the police, recorded footage of the officers, and directed verbal abuse towards them. He encouraged the crowd to join him as he pushed the trolley filled with rubble toward the police.

Why Did Emotional Scenes Break Out in the Courtroom?

As reported by BBC News, tears and gasps broke out in court as the second lot of defendants appeared in the dock, with Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke telling members of the public to listen “in silence” and “step outside now” if they felt they could not control themselves.

The emotional reactions in the public gallery underscored the continuing impact of the tragedy on the community.

On Wednesday, disruption from the public gallery led the judge at Cardiff Crown Court to clear it when 10 others were sentenced.

Members of the public gallery expressed their anger, shouting at the judge and making offensive comments as Ashdon O’Dare was sentenced to six years and six months.

What Background Led to the Ely Riots?

Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in May 2023 after their e-bike crashed in Ely, sparking hours of violence and vandalism which saw about 150 people turn up. The deaths of these two teenagers sparked the disorder that resulted in widespread damage to the Ely area of Cardiff.

Previously, ten teenagers had been sentenced for their roles in the disturbances, each receiving a referral order, a form of community sentence. The sentencing process is ongoing, with a total of 30 individuals expected to be sentenced in the coming days.

Judges have imposed prison sentences of 96 years and four months in total for the 31 people to date. This includes the latest group of six sentenced on Thursday and the 10 sentenced on Wednesday.

How Have Previous Sentencing Days Unfolded at Cardiff Crown Court?

The sixth day of Ely riots sentencings heard that a man flung stones at police, with defendants Mathew Evans, Jordan Bratcher, Cameron Carter, James Chappell, and Zayne Farrugia due to be sentenced on June 15, 2026. Today marked the sixth day of the sentencing proceedings for 30 individuals implicated in the Ely riots, which took place at Cardiff Crown Court.

On Monday, the sentencing for the 30 defendants commenced at Cardiff Crown Court, with the process expected to span two weeks. Among those awaiting sentencing were Kyle Telemaque, 20; Juana Fouad, 19; Ryan Knight, 21; Jordan Webster, 30; Jay Westcott, 21; Jamie Jones, 24; Li Tucker, 20; Harvey James, 20; Connor Sullivan, 27; Luke Williams, 32; and Lee Robinson, 39.

Lee Robinson, who positioned himself at the forefront of the crowd’s aggression, received a six-year and six-month prison sentence. Michaela Gonzales, visibly emotional, was sentenced to five years and seven months. Jaydan Baston received a sentence of four years and six months in a young offenders institution, while McKenzie Pring was also sentenced to four years in such a facility. Keiron Beccano was handed a sentence of five years and six months.

Another group of individuals involved in the Ely riots was set to learn their fates on June 18, 2026, with defendants Jamie Jones, Jayden Westcott, Jumana Fouad, Jordan Webster, Lianna Tucker, Zayne Farrugia, Jasmine Smith, Jamie Bateman, Liam Williams, and James Chappell due to be sentenced.

As the eighth day of the sentencing proceedings for 30 individuals connected to the Ely riots unfolded, Jamie Jones became the first to receive a sentence on Thursday, resulting in a term of five years and two months in prison.

At the Cardiff Crown Court’s sentencing session on Wednesday, members of the public gallery expressed their anger, shouting at the judge and making offensive comments.

This afternoon, Jasmine Smith, Jamie Bateman, Liam Williams, and James Chappell were also expected to receive their sentences.

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What Legal Charges Were Brought Against the Defendants?

Six men were found guilty of Ely riots after the e-bike crash deaths, with the defendants including Lee Robinson, 38; Luke Williams, 31; Jaydan Baston, 21; Jordan Bratcher, 27; Zayne Farrugia, 25; and Connor O’Sullivan, 26, all residents of Caerau and Ely. They were all found guilty of rioting after pleading not guilty to the charges.

Conversely, McKenzie Danks, 22, from Heol Trelai, Caerau, was acquitted of the same accusation. A man who confessed to assaulting two police officers during a disturbance in the Ely region of Cardiff received a suspended prison sentence. McKenzie Danks pushed one officer and threw a slider shoe at another but caused no injuries.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke acknowledged his “sincere remorse” for his conduct, sentencing him to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for a year. Danks received a sentence of 12 weeks for the assault on two police officers, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service, in addition to covering costs and a victim surcharge.

Sixteen adult defendants appeared before Cardiff Crown Court on Friday charged with rioting in the Ely area of Cardiff in 2023. Sixteen defendants appeared before Cardiff Crown Court on Friday charged with rioting in Ely after the deaths of two boys in the city.

What Is the Background of the Ely Riots Development?

The Ely riots represent one of the most significant episodes of disorder in Cardiff in recent years, originating from a tragic accident that spiraled into widespread violence.

On the evening of May 22, 2023, Kyrees Sullivan, aged 16, and Harvey Evans, aged 15, died when their electric bike crashed in the Ely area of Cardiff. Rumours spread that the teenagers were being followed by police, which contributed to the community’s anger and the subsequent disorder.

The unrest that followed saw approximately 150 people gather, resulting in hours of violence and vandalism throughout the Ely neighbourhood.

The disorder included stone-throwing at police officers, obstruction of roads with shopping carts filled with debris, and widespread property damage.

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges relating to the Ely, Cardiff riots in September 2024, marking the beginning of the legal process that would eventually see 30 individuals face judgment.

The first Ely riots trial reached conclusion in October 2025, with seven defendants accused of participating in the ugly scenes in Ely.

Six people were found guilty of rioting following the deaths of two teenagers in a road accident, with the defendants released on bail pending sentencing by Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the recorder of Cardiff.

The sentencing proceedings commenced at Cardiff Crown Court on June 7, 2026, with the process expected to span two weeks.

Ashdon O’Dare, 28, from Ely, was found guilty of rioting by a jury following a trial at Newport Crown Court in February 2026. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke remanded O’Dare on conditional bail until his sentencing date on June 8, 2026, where he became the first Ely rioter to be sentenced with six years and six months.

How Will This Development Affect the Cardiff Community and Families Involved?

The continuing sentencing proceedings over the Ely riots will have significant implications for multiple stakeholders in the Cardiff community. For the families of Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans, the completion of sentencing for all 30 defendants will represent a crucial step in the long legal process that began nearly three years after their sons’ deaths.

The residents of Ely and Caerau, where many of the defendants lived, will face the reality of having numerous community members imprisoned for extended periods.

With judges having imposed prison sentences of 96 years and four months in total for the 31 people to date, the local community will experience the impact of losing a significant number of young adults to incarceration.

For the Welsh justice system, the successful prosecution and sentencing of 30 individuals over the Ely riots demonstrates the capacity to handle complex riot cases involving multiple defendants.

The two-week sentencing period at Cardiff Crown Court, with Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke overseeing proceedings, sets a precedent for how similar mass disorder cases may be managed in the future.

The emotional reactions in the courtroom, including gasps, tears, and occasional disruptions from the public gallery, indicate that the case continues to resonate deeply with community members. Judge Lloyd-Clarke’s instruction to members of the public to listen “in silence” and step outside if they could not control themselves suggests that the courtroom atmosphere remains volatile.

For young offenders in Wales, the sentences handed down—including terms of four to six years for individuals in their late teens and early twenties—serve as a significant deterrent against participation in future riotous disorder.

The distinction between adult defendants receiving prison sentences and the ten teenagers who previously received referral orders (community sentences) highlights the age-based differentiation in sentencing approaches.

The continued media coverage of the sentencing proceedings, with reports from BBC News, WalesOnline, and ITV Wales, ensures that the case remains in the public consciousness and maintains pressure on the justice system to complete all sentencing.

This sustained attention may influence how similar cases of community disorder are reported and perceived in the future.