How Reading and Leeds Festival turned into anarchy just two years ago

Storm Lilian is wreaking havoc at Leeds Festival this week by blowing tents up in the air – but this is far from the first time the likes of Reading and Leeds have descended into chaos.

Just two years ago, as thousands of young music lovers flocked to the annual festivals to watch their favourite artists perform, parents were left fretting at home when it emerged that a teenager had died after taking MDMA at Leeds.

In recent years, raving youngsters have found themselves caught up in true anarchy, from robberies to tent arson and sexual assaults at the music events which, span across six days and attract crowds of up to 95,000.

The 2022 havoc is something no one could forget in a hurry, however, as festivalgoers were rocked when teenager David Celino from Worsley, Manchester, tragically died after taking ecstasy.

It was supposed to be an unforgettable weekend for the student, as he watched high-profile headline acts take to the stage, including Dave, Arctic Monkeys, The 1975, Megan Thee Stallion, Bring Me The Horizon, and Halsey.

Devastatingly, though, it ended up being a nightmare his family still wishes they could wake up from.

Speaking at an inquest in Wakefield, Gianpiero issued an urgent warning to fellow parents that the festivals ‘can’t be safe for 16 or 17-year-olds who attend unaccompanied.’

The grieving father, who drove his son to the festival, shared that Celino was planning to celebrate his GCSE results with friends that weekend, only for a parent’s worst nightmare to come true.

After receiving the call to say Celino had been taken to St James’s Hospital in Leeds, they learnt he had suffered a heart attack.

Coroner Kevin McLoughlin also said he hoped ‘all young people attending the festival heed the lessons drawn from this painful tragedy’.

One year on from Celino’s death, West Yorkshire Police said that almost double the number of people had been arrested for drug offences in 2023 than the previous year.

A total of 56 people were questioned on suspicion of drug supply offences, leading to multiple dealers being served extensive sentences behind bars.

The carnage of 2022 didn’t end there, though, as looting and fighting also broke out, leaving many feeling unsafe on-site because of the anti-social behaviour.

A lot of attendees left early due to the fighting, which included tent burning, gangs gathering in circles and throwing chairs, along with other objects, into flames.

One 21-year-old named Chloe told Metro.co.uk at the time that the younger attendees were taking part in what resembled a ‘Sunday night purge’.

Chloe said: ‘People were throwing bottles of urine, creating tall bonfires and we even heard rumours of stabbings in and around the area.’

She added that ‘when the wardens came around to get everyone away, everyone booed them and called them names.’

Amber Vellacott, 26, and her boyfriend said that the environment ‘just didn’t feel safe for two grown adults, let alone all the kids there’ as while there was a ‘fair’ amount of security guards, there weren’t ‘masses’, despite the violence unfolding.

As Reading and Leeds return, this year fans will be wary for another reason, despite the excitement around headliners including Liam Gallagher, Blink 182, and Fred Again.

Local police forces have said recent offences may still be working their way through the criminal justice system.

However, the figures have sparked debate about whether enough is being done to protect women and young girls at festivals.

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council previously said: ‘Leeds City Council works alongside West Yorkshire Police to tackle antisocial behaviour and violence against women and girls, neither of which are acceptable, and both are key aims and priorities for our Safer Leeds partnership.’

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