NINE people have been warned they could be sent to prison for their part in mass violence that erupted after a rugby club gala day in Kirkby Stephen last June.

They were among nearly 30 people arrested after gangs of people, several armed with weapons, clashed on the Westgarth estate on the night of June 13.

A total of 16 people were due to go on trial at Carlisle Crown Court this week accused of being involved in the violence.

But after a day and a half of negotiations between lawyers, seven men and two women – whose ages ranged from 15 to 29 – pleaded guilty to an assortment of charges including affray, dangerous driving and carrying such things as garden shears and golf clubs as offensive weapons.

Two other men agreed to be bound over for incidents of minor violence and charges against five other people were dropped.

All those who pleaded guilty were remanded on bail for background reports and will be sentenced on April 13.

Judge Paul Batty QC told them they should read nothing into the fact that they had been given bail because all sentencing options, including custody, were still open.

Those now facing sentence are: Lee Davidson, 22, of Westgarth Court, Kirkby Stephen, who pleaded guilty to carrying garden shears.

Martyn Coleman, 21, of Wetheriggs Rise, Penrith, who pleaded guilty to affray.

Christopher Stephen Turnbull-Allen, 23, of Westgarth Court, Kirkby Stephen, who pleaded guilty to affray and carrying a golf club as an offensive weapon.

Mark Andrew Eddis, 18, of Westgarth Court, Kirkby Stephen, who pleaded guilty to affray and carrying a golf club as an offensive weapon.

Laura Jane Braithwaite, 25, of Westgarth Avenue, Kirkby Stephen, who pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour.

Richard Andrew Lofthouse, 23, of Stowgill Farm, Kaber; who pleaded guilty to affray.

Diane Jane Winder, 29, of Chapel Lane, Kendal, who admitted driving dangerously by driving her car into the mob and clipping Murray Jones, causing him slight injuries.

A 17-year-old youth and a 15-year-old boy, both from Kirkby Stephen, who pleaded guilty to carrying golf clubs as offensive weapons.

Liam Alan Jackson, 19, of Brentfield Way, Penrith, and Craig Carruthers, 18, of South Road, Kirkby Stephen, were bound over in the sum of £200 to keep the peace for a year.

Prosecuting counsel Rob Dudley said that though they had not been involved in any serious violence it was their “scuffling” which had been the catalyst to what happened later.

Charges against Dorothy Jean Cleasby, 63, Westgarth Court, Kirkby Stephen; Nicky Robin Davidson, 20, of White Ox Way, Penrith; Lewis Todd Lightburn, 19, of Church Street, Shap; Melanie Louise Prudhoe, 19, Westbrookfields, Kirkby Stephen; and Amy Ruth Winder, 18, of Faraday Road, Kirkby Stephen, were all dropped.