Three individuals admit to participating in riot in Ely

Three individuals have admitted to participating in a riot following the unrest in Ely in 2023, which occurred after the tragic deaths of two teenagers. Tyler Stapleton, 25, from Ely, McKenzie Pring, 21, from Caerau, and James Chappell, 30, from Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, all changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty.

The disturbances were triggered by the deaths of 16-year-old Kyrees Sullivan and 15-year-old Harvey Evans, who died in an e-bike accident in Ely, Cardiff, on 22 May 2023.

At Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke confirmed that the sentencing for the three men will take place on 8 June next year.

The unrest in east Cardiff escalated after social media rumours suggested that the teenagers had been followed by police before the crash. CCTV footage reviewed by BBC Verify indicated that the boys were being followed in the minutes leading up to the accident. Following the crash, crowds gathered, resulting in violence, injuries to police officers, and damage to vehicles and property.

Over 40 individuals have been charged in connection with the overnight disorder. The crowds were eventually dispersed between 03:00 and 03:30 BST on 23 May.

Author: Riley Thompson