Police officer was set on fire during Ely riots, court told

Court told police officer was set on fire during Ely riots as sentencing continues28 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleNelli BirdBBC Wales, Cardiff Crown CourtPA MediaAround 150 people turned up to Ely as riots broke out following the deaths of two teenagers, with 30 due to be sentenced over the coming daysRioters who made petrol bombs are among seven more people who have been sentenced for their part in disorder 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.Friday's sentencing took the number of people sentenced so far to 27, with tensions and outbursts in the public gallery earlier this week leading to the area being cleared by the judge.Ely riot 2023: what happened?Ely riot: Police timelineA 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 m...