Teenager admits role in city riot
A 17-YEAR-OLD has admitted taking part in the rioting which erupted in Swansea’s Mayhill last year.
The teenager – who cannot be named because of his age – pleaded guilty to a charge of riot when he appeared at Swansea Crown Court yesterday. He has previously admitted a charge of arson in connection with the same incident.
The boy’s plea brings to 22 the number of people who have admitted being involved in the mass disturbance which saw cars torched, missiles thrown and property attacked.
The youngest rioter was aged just 15. The sentencing of all those who have pleaded guilty will follow a trial of four defendants who have pleaded not guilty – this trial is due to take place in August.
Violence erupted around Waun Wen Road in Mayhill on the evening of May 20 following a vigil for 19-yearold Ethan Powell who had died the previous day. A subsequent inquest into the teenager’s death ruled it was drug-related.
A report into the riot criticised the response of South Wales Police which refused two requests for a public order unit – officers specially trained to deal with public disorder situations – to be deployed to the area.
The report said residents were left cowering and “unprotected”, and it said there had been “significant failings” in how the police dealt with the situation.
In response to the report the chief constable of South Wales Police, Jeremy Vaughan, apologised to those affected by the rioting, saying: “We failed to take action quickly enough on the night and for that I am truly sorry.”