Zayne Farrugia

Zayne Farrugia has been involved in public criminal proceedings in the UK, primarily related to his involvement in the Ely riots and a separate dangerous driving offense.

Ely Riots (Cardiff, May 2023):

Zayne Farrugia was charged with riot in connection with the large-scale public disorder that occurred in Ely, Cardiff, in May 2023. His date of birth is listed as May 7, 2000, and he is from Caerau, Cardiff.

He was among 31 individuals charged with offenses related to the riots, with 27 facing riot charges. Farrugia pleaded not guilty to rioting. During his trial in Newport Crown Court in October 2025, he gave evidence, admitting to throwing stones at police officers but denying rioting, expressing shame for his actions. Footage shown in court depicted him throwing stones at officers.

Farrugia, aged 26 at the time of sentencing, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on June 18, 2026, to six years imprisonment for his role in the riots. The court heard that he confronted police, pulled his hood over his head, collected stones from a garden, and threw them at officers. His case reference is 62EN0475123.

Dangerous Driving Offence (June 2023):

In a separate case, Zayne Farrugia, then 23, pleaded guilty to driving a KTM motorcycle dangerously and without insurance. This incident occurred during a "ride-out" on June 10, 2023, which commemorated teenagers killed in a crash. The court heard that his dangerous driving involved performing a wheelie with a female passenger in the middle of the road, though it was noted as a lower-level offense as it was not repeated and was away from other drivers or pedestrians.

On February 22, 2024, Farrugia received an 18-month community order, 100 hours of unpaid work, and 20 days of rehabilitation activity. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and required to take an extended retest. Additionally, he was fined £100 for driving without insurance, along with a £114 victim services surcharge and £85 in costs.