This was a bizarre case which ended up in court. It was quite bizarre that the pair had been taunting each other on You Tube – it was like Gypsy Fight Club.

TWO feuding travellers have been jailed for three years each for plotting a violent confrontation at last year’s Appleby horse fair.

Alan Reynolds Cheyanne Tunney (33), of Bentley, Doncaster, and James McPhee (43), Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, were sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on Monday.

In the weeks leading up to the 2016 fair both men posted videos on social media, threatening and goading one another to fight at the annual traveller and gypsy gathering.

At an earlier hearing videos were shown in court in which Tunney challenged McPhee to fight “any time, any place”, while McPhee threatened: “I will rip the head off you.”

The court heard that police were aware of the videos prior to the fair and intercepted both groups, preventing the planned confrontation.

In a statement which was read out during Monday’s hearing, a lorry driver who was parked in a lay-by on the A66 on Saturday, 4th June, last year, said he noticed a number of cars stopping and men getting out to dispose of a number of items over a 10-minute period at around 3pm.

The court was told there had been around 19 vehicles travelling in a convoy on that day and, when police searched the roadside verge, a number of items were recovered — including 11 knives, a screwdriver and a standalone blade, as well as drugs and mobile phones.

However, when Tunney and his associates were searched no weapons were found.

Giving evidence, Tunney, who denied going to the horse fair armed, said he had been attending the annual event for the past 30 years and added that he always travelled with a group.

He said bare knuckle boxing fights were usually arranged in advance, with each man taking five or six people with him to make sure the rules were observed — including no kicking or biting. “We put bandages on our hands,” he added.

When asked by defence barrister Ms Rosalind Scott-Bell if he ever carried weapons he replied: “Definitely not, no — it’s not in my nature and it’s not in Mr. McPhee’s nature”.

He added that after they had settled their differences they would all go to the pub for a drink. Tunney said that with the high police presence at the horse fair, none of his group would be carrying knives.

He said the dispute related to the sale of a horse from the previous year and added: “If you were from the gypsy community you would understand.”

Ms Scott-Bell said that since last June both parties had managed to sort out their differences, “not in a violent way” but through talking, and there had been “no further instances” between the time of the fair and when they were both incarcerated in October.

Judge Peter Davies said there had been “premeditated planning for violence in public” and there had been significant numbers at that location with “enough there to have a battle”.

He added that Mr Tunney’s group had been armed with knives, and if the clash had taken place there would have been very serious injuries caused.

Both men were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and banned from attending the fair for 10 years.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Ian Chappell, of North Cumbria CID, said: “These two men were clearly planning on causing violent disorder on a large scale, giving no thought to the many families that attend the Appleby horse fair every year.

“The diligent inquiries of the constabulary intelligence bureau enabled a quick response by operational officers, who were able to identify the rival groups and disperse them from the area in a safe and timely manner, ensuring the safety of those at the fair and the wider local community.

“North Cumbria CID liaised with numerous constabularies across northern England and Police Scotland, leading to the arrests of Mr Tunney and Mr McPhee.

“Both males were uncooperative during the investigation and have shown no remorse for their actions.”

Stuart Pattinson, senior crown prosecutor at CPS North West, added: “Alan Tunney and James McPhee admitted conspiring to commit violent disorder at the annual Appleby horse fair last year. Both were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment each.

“The conspiracy involved a prearranged fight in the context of an ongoing feud between rival families. The defendants were well aware that the meeting would result in serious violence which not only put the participants at risk of injury, but also members of the public who were visiting Appleby to enjoy the historic annual event.

“We worked closely with the police from the outset to build the strongest possible case against both defendants, which left them with no other option but to plead guilty.”

From the The Cumberland & Westmorland Herald on Saturday, July 8, 2017.