Police dog 'hurt by concrete' in Ely riots

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

A police officer and his dog were injured after objects including concrete were thrown during riots, a court has been told.

PC Paul Ellery told Newport Crown Court he was left with scratches to his legs after the unrest in Ely, Cardiff, two years ago.

Eight defendants are charged with rioting in May 2023 when violence broke out after teenagers, Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, were killed when their e-bike crashed on Snowden Road on 22 May 2023.

South Wales Police's PC Ellery got to the scene at 18:29, initially leaving his dog, named Koba, in the van.

Koba, the court heard, was brought from the van when the police officer heard glass breaking and "things were starting to get thrown".

"It was to protect the officers and preserve the scene," he said.

"And the two boys were still being attended to by paramedics - so to stop the crowd getting to them."

The court was previously shown footage appearing to show defendant Lee Robinson singling out and threatening PC Ellery.

Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe said Mr Robinson called the officer a coward and child killer and accused him of hiding behind his dog and female officers.

The court heard Mr Robinson believed he had been previously dealt with by the officer.

PC Ellery said he did not think that was the case.

He told the court Mr Robinson was not arrested at the scene as officers did not want things to get worse.

PC Ellery and Koba left at 20:56 but were deployed later at about 01:30 on nearby Howell Road.

Sgt Gareth Phillips said in a statement he arrived at Snowden Road at 19:50 and saw a crowd with "snarling faces and clenched fists" shouting offensive language.

He called the use of dogs "proportionate" saying: "I had seen missiles being thrown at officers and attempts had been made to breach the police cordon and compromise the scene of the RTC."

He said he was hit by something on the shoulder: "From the noise and number of injured officers, the behaviour had escalated to serious violent disorder."

Sgt Phillips returned to Ely at 01:26 to the bottom of Howell Road.

The court heard he saw "cars burning and groups of people shouting" at the top of the road.

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

• Lee Robinson, 38, from Caerau, Cardiff

• McKenzie Danks, 22, from Caerau

• Michaela Gonzales, 37, from Ely, Cardiff

• 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 case continues.