A FORMER Carlisle boxer has been jailed over an abusive Facebook video aimed at bare-knuckle fighter turned actor Decca Heggie.

At the city's crown court, a judge was shown the vitriolic six-and-a-half minute video made by 34-year-old Daniel Shannon Christie, threatening both Mr Heggie and his manager George Guest.

Pacing up and down in his flat in front of a camera, and occasionally feigning punches, Christie recorded himself yelling repeated insults at the men and making allegations about both men, at one point threatening to 'chin' Mr Guest if he were to meet him in the street.

The video was widely circulated on social media, the court heard.

Formerly of John Robert Gardens, off Shaddongate, Christie had earlier admitted witness intimidation because he made the video on March 25, while police were already investigating him for harassing the two victims.

He was later convicted of those offences, and given a suspended jail sentence.

Christie later tried to withdraw his guilty plea to the witness intimidation offence but was refused permission by a judge.

Outlining the prosecution case, barrister Kim Whittlestone said: "This defendant and Decca Heggie are former boxers, who used to train together at the same gym.

"Mr Guest, the [second] victim of harassment, is a businessman from Carlisle and he is currently supporting and promoting Mr Heggie, who has put himself forward as an actor, a mentor, and a motivational speaker.

"It appears that Mr Christie and Mr Heggie have fallen out."

As a result of that, said the barrister, Christie had made a number of videos making defamatory allegations about Mr Heggie and circulated these on various websites.

Mr Heggie reported it to the police, saying the videos - and the allegations they contained - left him distressed. After this, Christie turned his attention to Mr Guest, making further videos with unpleasant accusations about him.

Christie was arrested for this the day before he made the video that led to the witness intimidation charge.

Russell Davies, for Christie, said the defendant claimed he and his children were threatened.

"The sooner a line is drawn under this case the better," said Mr Davies.

There had been a phone call to him which attempted to entrap him over a blackmail allegation - never proceeded with, said Christie.

Jailing the defendant for 16 months, Judge Nicholas Barker told Christie he was unable to suspend the sentence for the intimidating March 25 video, which had been a "ferocious, abusive and threatening rant".

He threatened to both Mr Guest and Mr Heggie.

There could be no doubt that Christie intended his video to be deeply intimidating to both men, said the judge.

As well as jailing Christie, the judge imposed a restraining order which bans Christie from making any contact with either Mr Heggie or Mr Guest for the next five years.

A former bare-knuckle fighter from Carlisle, Mr Heggie recently began an acting career, appearing last year in the film Corrupted. He was unbeaten in his 15 bareknuckle fights. More recently, he has spoken candidly about his struggles with mental health.