It was one of the most shocking nights ever to have taken place in Swansea. The community of Mayhill witnessed sickening devastation and damage in May 2021 after what was supposed to be a peaceful vigil for a local teenager who had died turned violent.
Those involved in the rioting ranged from schoolchildren to men in their 40s, and as a result of the disturbance seven families have now left the Mayhill area or want to do so. Many of those who were involved that evening are now behind bars, after being sentenced by a leading Swansea judge in December.
Here, we've looked back at the terrible events of that evening, and revisited the scene of the crime to find out how life is now for those living along Waun Wen Road and its surrounding area. Get Swansea stories straight to your inbox with our newsletter.
READ MORE: The faces of the hooded rioters who brought carnage to Mayhill unmasked for the first time
The build-up to the riot
The gathering in Mayhill had originally been organised as a tribute to Swansea teenager Ethan Powell, 19, who had collapsed and later died after watching his beloved Swansea City play Barnsley.
A large crowd had been recruited to 'light up Mayhill' and according to Judge Paul Thomas, had envisaged large scale disorder and obtained cars, either bought or stolen, with the intention that they be destroyed.
All hell breaks loose
Mass violence erupted around Waun Wen Road in Mayhill on the evening of May 20, 2021. During the disturbance cars - including a stolen 4x4 - and motorbikes were driven through the community in an anti-social way, and then two cars which had been specifically bought for the evening were wheel-spun in front of the crowd and smashed up.
One of the cars was then torched and fireworks were thrown inside, while the second was sent careering down the steep hill of Waun Wen Road where it smashed through bollards before colliding with another car outside the house of resident Adam Romain.
The mob then turned their attention to dad-of-two Mr Romain as he tried to defend his home and family, and stones were thrown through the window of his house as his partner and children cowered inside. When police finally turned up, they were pelted with bricks, stones and bottles.
Over the course of more than two hours of terror for residents, three cars were set alight and ten vehicles, half of them police vehicles, were damaged. The cost of repair to police vehicles alone was in excess of £23,000. Three members of the public were struck by missiles. Six police officers were injured.
The victims
Other families had damage caused to their property on the evening, but Adam Romain and his family went through one of the most traumatic ordeals. He had to defend his family as rioters torched his car and threw bricks through his windows, showering his baby's cot with broken glass. The father-of-two filmed the incident and could be heard pleading with police to come quickly, but their pleas went unanswered.
The police response
Police who had attended the disorder came under attack and left. A report into the shocking incident criticised the response of South Wales Police, and said the force refused two requests for a public order unit to be deployed and left cowering residents "unprotected".
An independent review said residents whose windows were smashed on Waun Wen Road showed clear distress in recalling their experiences. It said there were "significant failings", and called for a full investigation. But it also said that any assessment of events on the evening of May 20 last year must start with a recognition that criminal responsibility sits with the adults and young people who committed criminal offences.
The chief constable of South Wales Police, Jeremy Vaughan, said at the time: "I want to apologise to all those who have been affected by this incident and particularly those local residents who were tormented by those responsible," he said. "We failed to take action quickly enough on the night and for that I am truly sorry. We have made some immediate improvements to our operational practices following this incident including how we manage information around an escalating incident and how we draw upon resource from across South Wales and beyond more quickly."
The review said there was "a protracted period during which the residents of Waun Wen Road were in danger, at risk and unprotected by the police". It said one specific example was when a threat to life was identified in respect of a particularly vulnerable individual which resulted in the deployment of officers with shields.
The officers later withdrew and the withdrawal, while "maximising the safety of officers", needed further examination. The review said: "Indeed this victim, along with other victims of the incident, appear to have been ‘lost’ for some time in both the decision-making and response processes."
It said the presence of a large number of officers - many visible to the public outside Townhill police station and others standing within sight of the incident itself - should be tested against force-wide deployment and command structures. The review panel said the information it received was that 20 or so officers responded early on, to 60 plus by the early hours of May 21. It said footage of police deployment showed a number of other police vehicles could be seen in the area. The review said officers requested the support of a police public order unit but that it was declined twice. The senior officer at the scene in Mayhill sought to go outside of the chain of command because of its repeated refusal.
The people jailed
Christopher Marc Munslow
Munslow of Eigen Crescent, Mayhill, Swansea. Aged 23 now, he was 21 at the time of the riot. Munslow was part of the crowd who were holding on to an Astra as it was wheel-spun in the street and took part in the attack on the car. At the time of the incident he was subject to a community order for the fraudulent use of an excise licence, and for traffic offences.
Sentence: Three-and-a-half years in prison
Niamh Cullen
Cullen of Moorview Road, Gendros, Swansea, was 18 at the time of the riot, and is now 19. Judge Thomas said he accepted Cullen had gone to the area with no criminal intent but then willingly joined in the "disgraceful attack" on police by throwing a stone and remained at the scene of the disturbance for an hour and a half. The judge said he had given the teenager’s case "the most anxious of considerations" but he was afraid the sentence had to be one of immediate custody.
Sentence: Two years and eight months in a young offenders institution.
Lewis James
James, of Trawler Road, Swansea Maritime Quarter. James is 21 now and was 20 at the time. James "played a very significant part in setting up the disturbance" and in using vehicles, stolen or legally obtained, "to provoke public spectacle". Judge Thomas said: "Without you and a handful of others, this riot would simply not have occurred". The court heard the defendant was involved in damaging a Ford Ka which had been taken to the scene - at one stage jumping on the bonnet of the car as it was being torched - and was sat in a Vauxhall Astra as it was being wheel-spun in front of the crowd. The judge told James he had "revelled" in what he was doing. James has no previous convictions.
Sentence: Five years in prison
Connor William Beddows
Beddows, of Merlin Crescent, Townhill, Swansea. The defendant was 21 at the time of the riot, and is now 22. Beddows was one of those who took the Vauxhall Astra to the scene of the disturbance, and at one stage was seen with a cigarette lighter in his hand. The court heard the defendant then stayed in the area and watched the violence the police were subsequently subjected to.
Sentence: Four years and three months in prison.
William Patrick Smolden
Smolden, of Eigen Crescent, Mayhill, Swansea. The defendant was 23 years old at the time, and is now 24. Smolden was "cheering" as a stolen Vauxhall Frontera was driven dangerously through the streets of Mayhill in the early stages of the disturbance, and seen encouraging others present to push the Vauxhall Astra down Waun Wen Road hill. He was then seen shouting and swearing threateningly at police and "inciting" others to attack officers, though the court accepted he had not actually thrown any objects himself.
Sentence: Three-and-a-half years in prison
Joshua Mark Cullen
Cullen, of Teilo Crescent, Mayhill, Swansea. Cullen was 30 at the time of the riot, and is now 32. Cullen was part of the crowd who smashed up the Vauxhall Astra, and threw bricks at the car after it had been rolled down Waun Wen Hill and set on fire outside Adam Romain’s house. Judge Thomas said Cullen was "in the vanguard" of the attack on the police and was part of the group which forced a riot van to retreat after it came under attack from bricks and stones - Cullen then "mocked" the police as they withdrew.
Cullen has no previous convictions.
Sentence: Five years and six months in prison.
Michael Dean Parsons
Parsons, of Matthew Street, Dyfatty, Swansea. He is aged 37. Judge Thomas told Parson he was one of the older of the people involved, and "played a leading role in the violence and disturbance". He said for two hours the defendant had been "in the thick of events" and at one stage had been seen holding a young child aloft on his shoulders, something the judge called "grotesque". The court heard Parsons then threw stones in the direction of Mr Romain’s house, and was "heavily involved" in the subsequent attack on the police including throwing multiple objects at officers from close quarters.
Parsons has previous convictions for public order matters, affray, robbery, and assault.
Sentence: Six years and three months in prison.
Paul Jones
Jones, of Waun Wen Road, Mayhill, Swansea. Jones was 43 at the time of the riot, and is now 45. The court heard Jones was "complicit" in obtaining a stolen Vauxhall Frontera which was then driven dangerously around the streets of Mayhill in the early stages of the disorder, and was involved in wheelspinning cars which "inflamed" the crowd. The judge noted that Jones lived on Waun Wen Road, the main focus of the rioting, and had his grandchildren in his property at the time he was out on the streets taking part in the riot.
Sentence: Four years and six months in prison
Jahanzaib Malik
Malik, of Llangyfelach Road, Brynhyfryd, Swansea. Malik, was 20 at the time, and is now 21. Judge Thomas said Malik was "deeply involved" in setting up the gathering, discussing the event on social media and talking about taking "toys" - cars and bikes - to the scene and "lighting up" Mayhill. The defendant was seen riding on the bonnet of the stolen Frontera as it was driven around Mayhill and later helped to set the Ford Ka on fire including handing fireworks to others who were torching the vehicle. The judge said Malik was outside Mr Romain’s house as the father tried to defend his home and family, and at one stage mockingly gave Mr Romain the thumbs up gesture. Malik was then "encouraging the mob by shouting and throwing stones".
At the time of the riot, Malik was on bail having been arrested for drug dealing in the Mount Pleasant area of Swansea - he is currently serving a prison sentence for that matter. The judge said the sentence riot would be adjusted downward to take account of the fact the defendant is currently serving a custodial sentence, a sentencing principle known as "totality".
Sentence: Four years in prison.
Aaron Robert David Phillips
Phillips, of Middle Road, Gendros, Swansea. Phillips was 22 when he took part in the riot, and is now aged 24. On the morning of the riot Phillips and a man called Kye Dennis travelled to Carmarthen to buy a Vauxhall Astra which was not in a roadworthy condition and they transported it to the Mayhill area on the back of a lorry - the judge said Phillips did this knowing the vehicle was to be used for anti-social purposes that evening. Phillips was subsequently involved in trying to set fire to the Astra before it was rolled down Waun Wen Road hill where it crashed into Adam Romain’s car outside his house.
Phillips has previous convictions for 76 offences. Mr Dennis was found not guilty of involvement in the riot at a trial in September.
Sentence: Six years and three months in prison.
Ryan Lee Owen
Owen, of Broughton Avenue, Portmead, Swansea. The defendant is 20 now, and was 19 at the time of the riot. Owen was one of a number of men who bought the Ford Ka as scrap from a seller on Baptist Well Street in Waun Wen on the day of the riot - the judge said when the defendant did this he knew the vehicle was going to be used for "mischievous purposes". Owen also handed fireworks to a fellow defendant Kian Hurley who threw them into the burning Ka.
At the time of the riot Owen was on bail having been arrested over an attack on boys on the street in Mumbles - an offence he was subsequently given a suspended sentence for - and in February this year he was sentenced to 18 months detention in a young offenders' institution for inflicting grievous bodily harm after breaking a woman’s jaw at a party.
Sentence: Four years detention in a young offenders institution.
Tyrone Anthony Lee Langan
Langan, of Llangyfelach Road, Brynhyfryd, Swansea. The defendant was aged 27 at the time of the riot, and is now 28. Langan was one of those who collected the Ka "for antisocial purposes", and was involved in wheel-spinning cars in the early stages of the disorder before joining the rioters who were trying to set fire to the crashed Astra outside Adam Romain’s house on Waun Wen Road.
Langan has previous convictions for inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and for affray, and at the time of the riot was on bail for an offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, an offence he is currently serving a sentence for.
Sentence: Five years and three months in prison.
Mitchell Bryce Meredith
Meredith, of Margaret Street, Port Tennant, Swansea. Meredith was 18 at the time of the riot and is now 20. Judge Thomas said the defendant was "as central as anybody" in the riot, and used a rag to set fire to the Vauxhall Astra outside Adam Romain’s house before throwing a large object - likely a bollard - at the burning car. Meredith then threw a brick through the front window of Mr Romain’s house in what the judge said was "arguably the single most shocking event" of the night. The judge said the defendant had been "a major rabble rouser" during the riot.
At the time of the disturbance the defendant was on bail for a series of assaults on his partner which had seen him slapping, grabbing, and strangling the woman and breaking her nose. He committed further offences after being arrested in connection with the riot.
Sentence: Five years and four months detention for riot and five years for arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered to be served concurrently, and eight months for the domestic assault to be served consecutively making an overall sentence of six years detention in a young offenders institution.
Keiron Argent
Argent, of Glyndwr Place, Townhill, Swansea, Argent is now 18 and was 17 at the time of the riot. Argent was involved in throwing stones at police officers positioned at the bottom of Waun Wen Road in the early stages of the disturbance, and was part of the crowd outside Mr Romain’s house filming some of the events on his phone. When on bail for the riot matter he by chance encountered Mr Romain who had been rehoused elsewhere in Swansea having moved out of his Waun Wen Road home with his family - Argent proceeded to threaten and insult Mr Romain, and make gun gestures towards him.
The defendant was not present for his sentencing, there having been an outbreak of Covid in the prison cell where he was being held on remark - his family and his advocate told the court they were happy for the teenager to be sentenced in his absence. In passing sentence, the judge said he was taking into account that the defendant was about to become a father.
Sentence: Two years and eight months for riot and six months for witness intimidation to run consecutively making an overall sentence of three years and two months in a young offenders institution. Argent was also made the subject of a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting Mr Romain.
Keiran Smith
Smith, of Creidiol Road, Mayhill, Swansea. Smith was 18 at the time of the offending, and is now 20. The defendant kicked and stamped on Ford Ka as it was being torched, threw stones, helped to damage the Vauxhall Astra, and followed the Astra after it had been rolled down Waun Wen Road. Smith later threw missiles at police officers and vehicles from close quarters, and "taunted" the officers as they came under attack. Smith has no previous convictions.
Sentence: Four years detention in a young offenders institution.
Ryan James Sarsfield
Sarsfield, of Waun Wen Road, Mayhill, Swansea. The defendant was 24 at the time of the riot and is now 26. Judge Thomas said Sarsfield was "heavily involved" in the early stages of the riot, helping to kick and damage the Ka and the Astra, and then following the Astra as it was rolled down Waun Wen Road. The judge told Sarsfield he had been living on the street when the riot took place and had helped to "trash your own street".
Sarsfield was subject to a suspended prison sentence at the time of the riot, and while on bail and being investigated for his involvement in the disturbance hit a woman on the back of the head with a bottle following an altercation on Swansea’s High Street - though the judge accepted the woman the defendant struck been carrying a knife.
Sentence: Four years for the riot and three months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm for the bottle attack to run consecutively making an overall sentence of four years and three months in prison.
Kian Hurley
Hurley, of Waun Wen Road, Mayhill, Swansea. Hurley was 23 at the time of the riot, and is 24 now. The defendant threw a box of fireworks into the already burning Ford Ka on Waun Wen Road, and was "actively encouraging" others to damage the Ka and the Astra before throwing stones at the police. Judge Thomas said Hurley had filmed some of the disorder on his phone and it was clear he had "celebrated and exalted in" the violence and destruction, even at one stage posing for a selfie "with a broad smile" on his face.
Hurley had entered a basis of plea to his plea of guilty which was not accepted by the prosecution, and so he was the only defendant to have a hearing called a Newton hearing to establish the facts. Giving evidence from the witness box he said he did not know the object he threw into the burning car were fireworks, and had just turned and ran away after doing so because everyone else had turned and ran. He also claimed he had only thrown stones at the police because he was upset at them for leaving the area and not coming to help residents including his mother, whose house was close to the burning Astra. Judge Thomas described the version of events given by the defendant as risible, and said it was clear from Hurley’s performance in the witness box that he had shown no real remorse. The defendant has a previous conviction for robbery committed when he was a youth.
Sentence: Six years and nine months in prison - the defendant only had a 10 per cent discount for his guilty plea as he was unsuccessful at the Newton hearing and so his credit was halved.
Dean David Price
Price, of Joseph Davies Close, Waun Wen, Swansea. Price was 39 at the time of the riot, and is now aged 41. The court heard the defendant was involved in damaging both the Ka and the Astra, and made repeated - though unsuccessful - attempts to ignite them with a cigarette lighter. Judge Thomas said the defendant’s actions had "significantly escalated the situation", and had "heightened" the crowd’s reactions.
Price has multiple previous convictions for affray as well as for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, inflicting grievous bodily harm, and assaulting emergency workers. At the time of the riot he was on post-release supervision after being released from a sentence for assaulting three emergency workers. In 2017 he was sentenced for attempted theft of a car and assault occasioning actual bodily harm after punching a dad and trying to take his car as terrified children screamed on the back seat.
Sentence: Five years and six months in prison.
Life now in Waun Wen Road
Kimberley Davies, who has lived in High View, around the corner from Waun Wen Road, for the last 18 years, explained how she came very close to getting caught up in the riot on the night it happened. She explained: "Me and my mother came close, we were just coming down the bank walking back towards my house and all we could see was this car going down the road. It was terrifying. I can't explain it. We got home, locked the door and hoped for the best.
"I am glad that the court cases has now put an end to it. They deserve what they deserve. It is alright in the area now, it has gone really quiet, but you still feel you have to watch yourself. It has shocked the neighbours here."
Another High View resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "Police did not deal with it whatsoever on the night, and it took them four weeks to knock on our door. At the time I had a two-year-old, and I feared more for my little one. It was terrifying. I was personally disappointed with the sentences. If they are willing to do something like that, it should have been ten years or more. A lot of people have moved out down towards the end. It's a pretty good vibe now, but people are still wondering what's going to happen."
A third High View resident said: "It's not nice for the kids. It's a deprived area and there is a feeling anything could kick off at any moment. That night has had a big impact."
One Waun Wen Road resident claimed to be one of the few original people left who lived there at the time of the riot, with many having since moved. She said: "It was like being in a war at the time, and after dark it has been very scary since when you consider what's happened. It has become a bit quieter since they put the barriers up. We are a single family, but we have not left because this is our home."
Gabriella Lavin moved into Waun Wen Road after the riots took place, not realising what had gone on in the neighbourhood. She said: "It was a shock to realise what had happened and it was really scary. We didn't even know about the riots. It has been fine here, there have been a few small incidents, but generally it has been quiet."
Another Waun Wen Road resident, who asked to only be identified as Gemma, added: "On the night I'd just come back from a run and my wife rang me and said 'Come here now, there is a problem'. We locked our doors and hoped for the best. Thankfully there was no damage caused to our house. We thought those who appeared in court were dealt with well, although there should have been more of them. There were hundreds here on the night.
"It has affected people, as they cannot sell their houses now, and you see a lot of houses going up 'for let' instead. People ask 'Where do you live?' and when you say 'Waun Wen Road' you can see their faces squirm. It has made people a bit weary and those who live here more anxious."
Mr Romain has now moved away from the area, but we caught up with him to get his thoughts on the sentencings. He said: "I was happy to see a result finally, as you can imagine. The amount of time that had gone by, it was something which felt like a dark cloud following you around. You try and forget about it and get on with life, and focus on your endeavours, but you would be reminded that it was still ongoing and there was uncertainty with them still out on the streets and whether they'd continue their antics, whether they'd learnt, whether they hadn't learnt, whether they had calmed down, all these questions you were left wondering. It makes you wonder if people are wise enough to avoid continuing the trouble or how they feel. It's a relief to know they'll be away for a time. It certainly is something we'd all like to put behind us now, hopefully they'll have time to think about it and put things behind them too."
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