People threw slate 'like frisbees', riot trial told

Litter and burnt cars were left on the street in Ely, Cardiff

A police officer has described how people threw slate "like they were throwing frisbees" during rioting in Cardiff two years ago.

Eight defendants are on trial at Newport Crown Court charged with rioting in May 2023 when violence broke out following the deaths of two teenage boys in Ely.

PC Dan Rogers from South Wales Police told the jury that people came at officers with a burning mattress as well as throwing slate.

He said the experience, which saw him hit in the knee by a brick, was "quite frightening".

PC Rogers, based at Porth police station, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was one of a number of officers who came to the scene after "Operation Scorpion" was declared by South Wales Police. This was a call to any officer with advanced public order training to attend.

The court heard how the group of officers he was with initially wore baseball caps and had no riot helmets or shields, before putting on flame-retardant suits once missiles were being thrown.

PC Rogers recalled one man, who the jury heard was "30-40, 6ft 2in, large and muscular" and "wearing a tank top". He was "vocal and abusive" as police tried to move the crowd backwards.

Soon officers were told to adopt the "show of strength" stance, meaning they should take batons out of their holders and above their heads, pointing upwards.

PC Rogers described how in the following moments he hit the large man in the vest, later identified as defendant Lee Robinson, "to the legs" with his baton and the man then "ran away from the police line".

Asked why he struck the man PC Rogers said " to change his thought process and get him to leave the area."

PC Rogers told the jury he was hit on the wrist by an object and that a "heavy blow" to his knee from a brick meant he could not continue and he was sent back to Ely police station.

X-rays confirmed "soft tissue damage" to his knee and wrist.

The court also heard how the mother of one of two teenagers whose deaths sparked the rioting ran to the scene as officers performed CPR on her son.

Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died at the scene of the crash on 22 May 2023.

A statement from PC India Howells was read to the court describing the scene as "highly distressed" and "emotional" as she saw the mother of Kyrees Sullivan running down the road.

PC Howells went on to describe how another officer "intercepted" the woman and "escorted her aside where members of the public comforted her" as officers carried out CPR on the two boys.

The officer then explained how a man in yellow joggers and t-shirt attempted to push past the officers, causing the hostility to start.

The court heard "family members were taken aside and spoken to by a senior officer" but a glass bottle was then thrown.

PC David Moore, who was one of the officers who came to the scene when back up was called, also had his statement read in court.

The court heard he was on the scene from 20:15 BST until 01:00 BST, receiving multiple injuries including having two breeze blocks hit his foot during a two minute period.

PC Moore said he "buckled" due to the "high level of pain experienced and retreated."

He also described how at 21:50 he used his shield to "hit" a mattress to the floor after it was set alight.

At 22:25 he said rioters broke into a white car before setting it on fire and attempting to "push" it towards officers.

At 23:26 PC Moore said his vision was "impacted for a few seconds" after offenders lit fireworks and aimed them at police.

Riot police were deployed in Ely to try to contain people after the incident

The court heard he received other injuries including having a brick hit his helmet which caused " strain to my neck" and "a ringing sensation in my ears" resulting in ongoing headaches.

He also said a missile hitting his shield caused his thumb to be bent backwards, causing pain and mobility issues.

The court also heard from police officers including PC James Rees who said he "feared" he would be killed during the violence.

He described seeing a petrol canister strike an officer, "causing them to be set alight", as well as numerous items hitting him, a sensation he described as "bone jarring".

Another officer said the "mental trauma" of the incident remained and she could not look at footage of the night without feeling "physically sick".

Officers described being "pelted" by missiles, including microwaves, doors, tins of paint, dirty nappies, a porcelain toilet as well as drain covers.

They also described constant abuse with one person shouting: "I hope your kids die, I hope they get raped and die."

The court heard officers were "vastly outnumbered" by the rioters with one officer estimating a crowd of 300 at the height of the violence.

Eight defendants are on trial but by lunchtime on Thursday only five were in the dock due to illness.

Those on trial accused of riot, who all deny the charge, are:

• Lee Robinson, 38, from Caerau near Ely, Cardiff

• McKenzie Danks, 22, from Caerau

• Michaela Gonzales, 37, from Ely

• Zayne Farrugia, 25, from Caerau

• Jordan Bratcher, 27, from Llanishen, Cardiff

• Jaydan Baston, 21, from Caerau

• Connor O'Sullivan, 26, from Ely and

• Luke Williams, 31, from Caerau

The jury was told Michaela Gonzales was allowed to leave on Thursday morning after her doctor confirmed a "nasty digestive infection" and Jordan Bratcher and Zayne Farrugia were also "very unwell" by lunchtime and allowed to go home.

The court also heard two of the dock officers were also feeling unwell and the court would undergo a "deep clean" overnight.

The trial continues.