A man has been handed a £500 fine following an organised fight which descended into a fracas between two families from the travelling community.
Thomas Joyce, 44, was one of many men spotted on a video uploaded to YouTube which showcased a fight between two younger men.
However as the video played on, others got involved, one of them being Joyce, of Middleton.
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The others who got involved have not provided statements to the police, nor have they been arrested or charged, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Police had been looking into other videos which had previously been posted online where ‘threats or challenges’ had been made.
A significant police operation has been in place monitoring the feud between the two traveller families.
Joyce has since been asked by officers to help in ‘calming the situation’ as he has influence ‘on both sides’.
Today (October 19), he pleaded guilty to an offence of section 4 public order, namely using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.
Outlining the facts of the case, prosecutor Brian Berlyne said that on July 27 this year, the police discovered a video had been uploaded to a number of websites, including YouTube.
“It appears that it has been uploaded by various observers of a fight between two members of the external family, Joyce being one of the families,” he said.
“Police have identified two external families in a long running dispute.
“This took place on a basketball court on Langley, in Middleton.
“Thomas Joyce is identified as being one of the parties - you can see he is wearing a light blue vest and he takes it off during the fighting.
“Several people are involved in the violence, the defendant throws punches, though he did not take part in the footage of the man who was being kicked whilst he lay on the ground.”
Joyce was arrested on the same day but answered no comment to questions asked of him during a police interview.
The video, which was played to the court, showed two young men fighting whilst other men surrounded them shouting encouraging remarks and later getting involved in a fracas.
The court heard that no other men have been arrested or prosecuted.
Speaking to Mr Berlyne, sentencing judge Hilary Manley said: “It’s a bunch of men running around a basketball court throwing punches at each other.”
Joyce was said to have a number of previous convictions for violence, affray, public order offences and burglary.
Mitigating for Joyce, Daniel Travers said: “It’s an unpleasant video.
“Clearly this sort of video should not take place - though they were willing parties.
“Mr Joyce played a relatively minor role and has been out of trouble for many years.
“There have been some difficulties in the travelling community.
“He has been making efforts to try and calm matters down."
Mr Travers added that the police had approached Joyce, who ‘has some influence’ to help keep the communities calm.
He added that the basketball court was in a private place, owned by the travelling community, but conceded that the incident was not ‘lawful or acceptable’.
Sentencing, Judge Manley said: “You took part in some organised violence between two groups of people, you threw some punches.
“It was an unedifying spectacle, really.
“At 44-years-old, you’re really too old to behave like this, you must surely have better things to do with your time.
“You’re not setting a good example for the young men in your community.”
Joyce, of Boarshaw Clough, was fined £500.
As he left the dock, Judge Manley told him: “Make sure you pay that and don’t get involved in this sort of thing again.”
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