A 53-year-old woman from Ely in Cardiff was sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court following her involvement in the Ely riots of 2023. Janine Reffell had been drinking on the evening of May 22, 2023, when she learned about the deaths of best friends Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans. The boys tragically died in an electric bike accident on Snowden Road shortly after 6pm that evening. The news sparked disorder in Ely as around 100 to 150 individuals gathered at the police cordon on Stanway Road, leading to chaos in the area.
Reffell left her home on Illtyd Road and proceeded to Wilson Road, where she confronted officers at the police cordon and began verbally abusing them, as revealed during her sentencing hearing at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court. The prosecutor, Alex Orndal, informed the court that Reffell arrived at Wilson Road around 11pm while the riots were escalating at Stanway Road nearby. Over a span of 20 minutes, Reffell continuously hurled abusive language at the officers, including derogatory remarks and curses.
During her outburst, Reffell brandished a bottle of alcohol in her hand, indicating that she had been drinking. At around 11.10pm that evening, amidst her verbal assault, she struck the windscreen of a police car repeatedly until it shattered. The vehicle, valued at nearly £5,000 at the time, was rendered unroadworthy due to the damage caused by Reffell’s actions. The court learnt that Reffell had a history of previous convictions for various offences, including assault causing bodily harm, dishonesty offences, and a public order offence.
Reffell regarded the attack as a form of “revenge” and was influenced by the emotional turmoil stemming from rumours circulating on social media about police involvement in the tragic collision. Her defence counsel, Nathan Jones, highlighted Reffell’s struggles with the menopause and mental health issues at the time of the incident. Jones stated that Reffell had since made positive strides in her mental well-being and expressed remorse for her actions, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.
During the sentencing, Judge Stephen Harmes allowed Reffell to address the court. She expressed regret, stating, “I wish I stayed in the house that day. It was taken out of context and people went crazy. There was a lot of emotion.” The judge condemned the riots for tarnishing Ely’s reputation and sentenced Reffell to an 18-month community order with 25 days of rehabilitation. Additionally, she was ordered to pay £370 for the damage caused to the police car and £740 in costs, to be deducted from her universal credit at a rate of £30 per month over the next two years.
The judge’s verdict underscored the severity of Reffell’s actions and the consequences of her participation in the chaotic events that unfolded in the Cardiff suburb. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the impact of unchecked emotions and the ripple effect of escalating tensions within a community. As Ely grapples with the aftermath of the riots, residents and officials seek to rebuild trust and restore tranquillity in the neighbourhood, striving to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
The case of Janine Reffell highlights the importance of maintaining composure and responding to challenges with restraint and rationality, even in the face of distressing circumstances. It serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive potential of unchecked emotions and the need for individuals to seek support and guidance during tumultuous times. As communities strive to heal and move forward from such incidents, the lessons learned from Reffell’s case can catalyse efforts towards fostering harmony, understanding, and resilience within society.