Abuse hurled at judge as first group of rioters sentenced for Ely disorder

Abuse hurled at judge as first group of rioters sentenced for Ely disorder 32 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Nelli Bird BBC Wales, Cardiff Crown Court Getty Images The first group of rioters have been sentenced for their part in the Ely disorder three years ago Angry scenes broke out in court as the first group of rioters were sentenced for violence in Cardiff three years ago. Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died on 22 May 2023 after their e-bike crashed in the Ely area of Cardiff, sparking hours of violence and vandalism with about 150 people turning up to riot. On Wednesday, nine people were sentenced to serve up to 40% of their terms in custody, with the remainder in the community. After the first sentence was delivered, members of the public gallery started shouting, causing disruption in court. Warning: This story contains offensive language South Wales Police O'Dare and Robinson (top row, left to right) and Gonzales, Bratcher and Stapleton (bottom row, left to right) were sentenced on Wednesday When it was clear that one of the defendants, Harvey James, had avoided a jail term, applause broke out in the court and Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke asked for the public gallery to be cleared. "This is not entertainment, this is a sentencing exercise. Leave the court," she said. James, 20, from Fairwater, was 17 at the time of the riots when he confronted police and threw a rock at officers. He was given a 24-month community order and 20 days rehabilitation, in line with others who were sentenced in the youth court. On Wednesday morning, Ashdon O'Dare, 28, from Ely, was handed a sentence of six years and six months. He was described as an "instigator" who "whipped up" the crowd in the early stage of the riots. Lee Robinson, 40, from Caerau, was also sentenced to six years and six months. He was aggressive and repeatedly shouted abuse at police officers on the night of the disorder, the court heard. Michaela Gonzales, 37, from Ely, was sentenced to five years and two months. The court heard she was "vocal and confrontational" and threw a bottle at police in the early stages of the riot. Jordan Bratcher, 27, from Ely, was sentenced to five years and six months for being "part of the initial group who were throwing missiles at police". Tyler Stapleton, 26, from Ely, was sentenced to four years and four months - he was one of the people who were aggressive towards police and threw stones. Family photos Kyrees Sullivan (left), 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in an e-bike crash in Ely in May 2023 After the first defendant, O'Dare, was sentenced and taken into the dock, people in the public gallery shouted "love you Ash" and gave thumbs up and shouts of support. When the judge asked them to be quiet, one man in the public gallery appeared to make an offensive, two-fingered gesture at her and another shouted "shut up, you slut". Lloyd-Clarke asked for the two men to be detained on suspicion of contempt of court. Mckenzie Pring, 21,