Police Officer Set on Fire in Ely Riots as Sentencing Continues; Cardiff 2026

Key Points

• Seven more people have been sentenced for their part in the Ely riots in Cardiff, bringing the total number of people sentenced to 27
• Lee-Martin McQuade, 30, from Ely, was sentenced to six years and four months in jail for rioting and was part of the group preparing petrol bombs
• One petrol bomb thrown at officers set a police officer on fire during the violence
• McQuade shouted abuse at police, accused them of killing the two teenage boys, called officers “rapists”, and encouraged people to “hit Ely police station” with petrol bombs
• The night of violence and vandalism in May 2023 was sparked by the deaths of Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, after their e-bike crashed in Ely
• Around 150 people turned up to the area after police, whose van had been seen driving behind the pair earlier, were blamed by some for the teenagers’ deaths
• Judge Tracey-Lloyd Clarke told McQuade the maximum term he might have faced was eight years in jail, reduced because of his early guilty plea
• During Friday’s sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, people in the public gallery wore turquoise t-shirts featuring the faces of Sullivan and Evans with “three years of missing you both” written on them
• Tensions and outbursts in the public gallery earlier this week led to the area being cleared by the judge
• All seven defendants were sentenced for rioting

Cardiff (Cardiff Daily) June 19, 2026 – Friday’s sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court took the number of people sentenced so far for the Ely riots to 27, with rioters who made petrol bombs among the seven more people sentenced for their part in the disorder in Cardiff three years ago.

Who Were the Two Teenagers Whose Deaths Sparked the Ely Riots?

The night of violence and vandalism in May 2023 was sparked by the deaths of Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, after their e-bike crashed in the suburb of Ely.

As reported by BBC News, the two teenage boys died following the crash, and their deaths became the catalyst for the widespread disorder that erupted in the area.

How Did Around 150 People Respond After the E-bike Crash?

Around 150 people turned up to the area in the aftermath after police, whose van had been seen driving behind the pair earlier on the evening of the crash, were blamed by some for the teenagers’ deaths.

According to BBC News, this gathering quickly escalated into violence and vandalism, with rioters targeting police officers and local infrastructure.

What Happened to Police Officer Lee-Martin McQuade During the Riots?

As reported by BBC News, Lee-Martin McQuade was sentenced to six years and four months in jail, with the court told he was part of the group preparing petrol bombs of which one was thrown at officers and set a police officer on fire.

The 30-year-old from Ely shouted abuse at police and accused them of killing the two teenage boys, calling the officers “rapists”, and he encouraged people to “hit Ely police station” with petrol bombs.

Why Did Judge Tracey-Lloyd Clarke Reduce McQuade’s Sentence from Eight Years?

There were gasps in court when Judge Tracey-Lloyd Clarke told McQuade the maximum term he might have faced was eight years in jail but this was reduced because of his guilty plea early in the process.

As reported by BBC News, the judge acknowledged McQuade’s early guilty plea as the reason for the sentence reduction, though the severity of his actions—preparing and throwing petrol bombs that set a police officer on fire—remained central to the sentencing.

What Did Members of the Public Gallery Wear During Friday’s Sentencing?

As the latest hearing began on Friday at Cardiff Crown Court, a number of people in the public gallery wore turquoise t-shirts featuring the faces of the two teenage boys Sullivan and Evans, with the words “three years of missing you both” written on them.

According to BBC News, these t-shirts served as a visible reminder of the families’ ongoing grief three years after the teenagers’ deaths.

How Did Tensions in the Public Gallery Lead to the Area Being Cleared?

Friday’s sentencing took the number of people sentenced so far to 27, with tensions and outbursts in the public gallery earlier this week leading to the area being cleared by the judge.

As reported by BBC News, the judge’s decision to clear the public gallery was made after multiple outbursts disrupted the proceedings, highlighting the emotional intensity surrounding the Ely riots case.

What Was the Total Number of People Sentenced for the Ely Riots?

All seven defendants were sentenced for rioting, and Friday’s sentencing took the number of people sentenced so far to 27.

According to BBC News, this means that over the past three years, Cardiff Crown Court has processed sentences for 27 individuals involved in the disorder, with the latest group of seven receiving their sentences on Friday.

Which Media Outlet Covered the Latest Ely Riots Sentencing?

As reported by BBC News, the latest sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court was covered in detail by the broadcaster, which provided comprehensive reporting on the court proceedings, the defendants’ actions, and the emotional responses from the public gallery.

BBC News is the primary media source for this development, with journalist coverage focusing on the sentencing details and the broader context of the Ely riots.

Background of the Ely Riots Development

The Ely riots of May 2023 represent one of the most significant episodes of civil disorder in Cardiff in recent years. The violence was triggered by the deaths of two teenagers, Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans, who died after their e-bike crashed in the Ely suburb.

The incident quickly became controversial when some members of the community blamed police for the teenagers’ deaths, citing the presence of a police van driving behind the pair earlier on the evening of the crash.

The initial gathering of around 150 people in the aftermath of the crash rapidly escalated into widespread violence and vandalism. Rioters prepared and used petrol bombs, with one bomb thrown at police officers successfully setting a officer on fire.

The disorder involved shouted abuse against police, with some rioters calling officers “rapists” and encouraging others to attack Ely police station.

Cardiff Crown Court has been handling the sentencing of individuals involved in the riots over the past three years. As of Friday’s hearing, 27 people have been sentenced for their part in the disorder, with all seven of the latest defendants sentenced specifically for rioting.

The court proceedings have been marked by emotional outbursts from the public gallery, including instances where the area was cleared by the judge due to tensions.

The victims’ families have maintained a visible presence throughout the sentencing process. During Friday’s hearing, members of the public gallery wore turquoise t-shirts featuring the faces of Sullivan and Evans with the message “three years of missing you both,” demonstrating the ongoing impact of the teenagers’ deaths on their community.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affected Cardiff Residents and the Ely Community

The continuation of sentencing for the Ely riots carries significant implications for Cardiff residents and the Ely community specifically.

For the Ely community, the ongoing court proceedings serve as a reminder of the violence that erupted three years ago, potentially affecting community morale and trust in local institutions.

The sentencing of 27 individuals demonstrates that the legal system is holding participants accountable, which may help restore confidence in law enforcement among residents who were previously blames police for the teenagers’ deaths.

For Cardiff residents broadly, the sentencing reinforces the message that participation in riot disorder carries serious consequences, with sentences ranging up to eight years in jail.

The case of Lee-Martin McQuade, who received six years and four months for preparing and throwing petrol bombs that set a police officer on fire, sets a clear precedent for the severity of penalties for violent riot involvement.

This may deter future participation in similar disorder among residents who might consider joining such activities.

The emotional intensity demonstrated in the public gallery, including outbursts that led to the area being cleared by the judge, indicates that the Ely riots case continues to generate strong feelings among community members.

For families of the victims, particularly those of Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans, the continuing sentencing process provides a form of judicial acknowledgment of the harm caused by the riots, though it cannot reverse the loss of their children.

Local police in Cardiff may experience both positive and negative effects from these sentencing outcomes. The accountability demonstrated through sentencing 27 individuals could help rebuild trust between police and communities that previously blamed officers for the teenagers’ deaths.

However, the continued presence of individuals shouting abuse at police and calling officers “rapists” during the riots, as documented in court, suggests that some community tensions regarding police remain unresolved.

The case also highlights the ongoing impact of e-bike safety on community welfare, as the deaths of Sullivan and Evans were triggered by an e-bike crash. This may prompt local authorities and residents to consider increased safety measures for e-bike usage in Cardiff neighborhoods, potentially affecting how young people in the community use these vehicles.