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

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Abuse hurled at judge as first group of rioters sentenced for Ely disorder18 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleNelli BirdBBC Wales, Cardiff Crown CourtGetty ImagesThe first group of rioters have been sentenced for their part in the Ely disorder three years agoAngry scenes broke out in court as five rioters were sentenced for violence in Cardiff three years ago. Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died on May 22, 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, Ashdon O'Dare, Lee Robinson, Michaela Gonzales, Jordan Bratcher and Tyler Stapleton, 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 languageSouth Wales PoliceO'Dare and Robinson (top row, left to right) and Gonzales, Bratcher and Stapleton (bottom row, left to right) were sentenced on WednesdayO'Dare, 28, from Ely, who was sentenced to six years and six months, was described as an "instigator" who "whipped up" the crowd in the early stage of the riots. Robinson, 40, from Caerau, was sentenced to six years and six months.

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He was aggressive and repeatedly shouted abuse at police officers on the night of the disorder. 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.

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". 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 photosKyrees Sullivan (left), 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in an e-bike crash in Ely in May 2023After 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 Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke 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" at the judge. Tracey Lloyd-Clarke asked for the two men to be detained on suspicion of contempt of court. PAPolice bodycam footage was played to the court showing how tensions escalated as officers tried to secure the scene of the crashDuring the sentencing, footage which had been played to the jury during the two trials was again shown in court.

It showed a clear timeline of how tensions escalated and the initial bodycam footage which included many people looking upset and bewildered in the moments after the boys crashed.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.