Court told police officer was set on fire during Ely riots as sentencing continues
A judge has sentenced rioters to a total of nearly 140 years in custody for their parts in violence in Cardiff three years ago.
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.
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.
Cardiff Crown Court heard on Friday that one defendant helped prepare petrol bombs which were later thrown at police and set one female officer on fire.
In total, 30 people have been sentenced this week with 26 given custodial sentences ranging from 3 years and 8 months to 6 years and nine months. Four who were under 18 at the time of the riot were given community orders.
This week's sentencing saw tensions and outbursts in the public gallery, leading to the area being cleared by the judge.
At the end of her sentencing, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke praised the bravery of the hundreds of police officers who were working on the night of the riots.
"They risked their safety in a very dangerous and very volatile situation - I commend them for their dedication to duty."
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.
All seven defendants were sentenced for rioting.
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.
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.
Liam Black, 21, from Ely, was sentenced to six years and nine month detention in a young offenders' institution.
The court heard he threw fireworks at police, burned a plank of wood, and encouraged others to throw things at police.
Connor O'Sullivan, 27, from Ely, was sentenced to five years in jail, having thrown missiles including a brick at police.
He was also part of the crowd who threw a door at police, and was seen on a live stream video saying "come on, come on boys - any more?" and chanting "Ely gang, Ely gang".
All three were told they would serve up to half of their sentence before being released.
Callum O'Sullivan, 25, from Ely, was sentenced to three years and nine months after repeatedly throwing missiles at police during the riots, with a video of the disorder found on his phone.
Gemma Virgin, 45, also from Ely, was sentenced to three years and eight months after throwing several missiles, as well as approaching an officer with a "large piece of wood" and was verbally abusive.
Virgin later told police she had "jumped on the bandwagon" and expressed remorse.
Malaki McQuade, 19, from Ely, was sentenced to six years in a young offenders' institution for offences including throwing missiles and being part of a group that pushed a car onto its roof.
He was also sentenced for unlawful wounding and two drugs charges to be served concurrent, but the judge said there would be an uplift to his overall sentence to reflect those charges and the fact he was under a referral order at the time of the riot.
All three were told they would serve up to 40% of their sentences before release.
Matthew Evans, 22, from Ely, was sentenced to six years and four months in prison after being a part of a group who set alight a bed base and smashed a car window, and used an aerosol as a flame thrower to set alight the car. He also threw many missiles at police.
Cameron Carter, 20, from Ely, was sentenced to five years and three months in a young offenders' institution after throwing missiles and throwing a door, monitor, a baby chair and a metal drain cover at officers. He was also part of a group which tipped over a car onto its roof.
Although he was 17 at the time, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said he played a "leading role in what was undoubtedly a very serious riot" and that a custodial sentence was appropriate.
The judge made the same decision for Kyle Telemaque, 20, from Ely, who was also 17 at the time.
Telemaque was sentenced to five years in youth detention for his "leading role" in the riot by throwing missiles throughout the riot and was part of a group who set fire to a bed base and tipped a car.
Ryan Knight, 21, from Splott, was sentenced to 5 years , 4 months in prison. The court heard he "carried out a leading role" and threw a number of burning missiles at police, as well as other objects like a food waste caddie and a large rock.
They were told they would serve half of their sentence in custody before being released.
Throughout the hearings police officers have been a constant presence inside and outside the courtroom.
On Wednesday disruption from the public gallery led to the judge clearing the court when 10 other people were sentenced.
Nathan Fear, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wales said it had been the biggest investigation of its kind in Wales.
"A great deal of this evidence in this case was recorded, whether that be from body-worn footage, whether it be from social media or whether it be from drones.
"All of that together assisted in identification but also added to the complexity, making sure that you could identify defendants throughout different pieces of footage to understand what they had done and their culpability as a part of the offending.
"These sentences reflect the seriousness of this offending and send a clear message that this type of violence will not be tolerated."
A full inquest into the deaths of Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans hasn't yet taken place and the most recent preliminary hearing at Pontypridd Coroners Court heard that it was unlikely to start this year.
A decision by the CPS not to charge the police officer driving the van which was behind the teens in the moment before their deaths is being looked at again as part of the Victims Right to Review scheme.
That South Wales Police officer is still awaiting at gross misconduct hearing after the IOPC decided last summer he had a case to answer over the accuracy of accounts he provided to colleagues after the collision incident.
The officer is also facing disciplinary at the level of misconduct in relation to his driving and language he used in relation to the boys at the collision scene.