TWO feuding travellers plotted to fight each other at Appleby Fair in a series of abusive online videos.

But Alan Reynolds Cheyanne Tunney and James McPhee were foiled in their bid to face off at the historic annual gathering after police saw their internet insults.

Tunney, 33, and 43-year-old McPhee later confessed to conspiring to commit violent disorder.

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Details of their planned dust-up were outlined at Carlisle Crown Court.
Prosecutor Brendan Burke said: "The intended 'event' was to take place at Appleby horse fair last year, on June 4.

"In the weeks before, the police have recovered postings from each defendant on social media, grievously insulting each other and family members, and associates."

Footage showing abusive goading by both Tunney and McPhee was played in court. Tunney stated: "You will get what is coming."

McPhee demanded: "Get yourself to that fair". He also stated: "If you want to bring more men, bring more", and boasted: "I am going to rip the head off you."

On June 4, police filmed scores of men - described as "McPhee supporters" - leaving two buses at Appleby and gathering in a nearby field. Members of that group - two wearing balaclavas and one waving a skull-and-crossbones flag - dispersed after police intervention.

Meanwhile, on the A66 near Penrith, 10 cars and vans were intercepted. This, said Mr Burke, formed part of a 19-vehicle Tunney "convoy" which had been "tracked".

Tunney, at the front, was detained. "There was discovered, by the verge, 11 knives, a screwdriver and one stand-alone blade," Mr Burke explained.

"It was really self-explanatory from that, combined with exchanges over social media, what was afoot."

Rosalind Scott Bell, for Tunney, said: "It was an awful lot of bravado; showing off on YouTube. It was not a sophisticated plan. It was open, frankly, for everyone, including the police, to see what they were up to."

Fortunately, she stated, there was no physical violence, "no doubt because of the swift actions of the police".

She added: "We will never know what actual degree of violence there was going to be."

However, it emerged Tunney disputed his alleged link to the weapons recovered. Another court hearing is necessary to resolve that matter.

This will take place on July 3, after which Tunney, of Bentley, Doncaster, and McPhee, of Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, will be sentenced.