Guilty pleas after e-bike crash deaths riot

Morgan Williams (left), Jayden Williams (centre) and Janine Refell admitted threats and damage offences related to the Ely riots

Four people have admitted threats and damage offences in relation to mass disorder in Cardiff in 2023.

Violence broke out following the deaths of Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, in Ely on the evening of 22 May when they crashed an e-bike minutes after CCTV showed them being followed by a South Wales Police van.

A total of 13 people appeared appeared in Cardiff Magistrates Court on Friday, including eight youth defendants. On Thursday 17 people appeared on charges but entered no pleas.

Twins Morgan and Jayden Williams, 18 and from Pentwyn and Grangetown, pleaded guilty to threatening to cause criminal damage.

The pair were among dozens of local people who clashed with police over several hours of rioting, with dozens of officers injured, property damaged and cars set alight.

Morgan threatened to burn down the local police station, the court was told, and threatened to find out where attending police officers lived and attack their homes.

From a police cordon away from the scene of the riot he said: "On my brother's grave, your police station is getting set on fire tonight."

His brother Jayden threatened to blow up the police cars at the scene.

They were released on unconditional bail and are due to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on the 21 October.

Cars were set alight and fireworks were set off at at riot in the Ely area of Cardiff

Janine Refell, 53, from Ely pleaded guilty to criminal damage for smashing the rear window of a police car during the disturbance, the court heard.

She was released on unconditional bail and is due to appear for sentencing on 18 November.

"You caused criminal damage to the rear window on the day of the riots on an adjoining street away from the rest of the rioting," district judge Stephen Harmes said.

Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in a bike crash in Ely, Cardiff last year, shaking the community

From the eight defendants between the ages of 15 and 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, one pleaded guilty to threatening to cause criminal damage.

He was released on unconditional bail and is due to be sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates Court on 26 November.

The seven others entered not guilty pleas and were released on unconditional bail for trial on the 16 December.

McKenzie Pring, 19, and Lee Robinson, 37, both from Caerau, both face a charge of riot.

No pleas were entered and they are due to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on 21 October.