“I lost two of my mates that day,” says Jaydan Baston, caught up in the Ely riots trial. On trial with seven others, Jaydan, 21, insists he’s “not a bad person” and didn’t intend to cause trouble during the chaos that rocked Cardiff’s Ely suburb. It all kicked off on May 22, 2023, after the tragic deaths of two teenagers in a crash. Tensions skyrocketed, leading to a standoff with the police. Jaydan admits throwing a piece of plasterboard but says he instantly regretted it. For him, it was an emotional upheaval rather than an intent to riot. Another accused, Jordan Bratcher, admitted throwing a stone at officers but claims he soon realised things were spiralling and retreated. He expressed anger over police treatment but stresses he didn’t want to be part of the escalating trouble. All defendants, aged between 21 and 38, plead not guilty to rioting. As the trial unfolds at Newport Crown Court, it’s clear emotions and chaos were rife that day. We’ll keep you updated as this intense legal drama continues. Stay tuned!
