A FEUD between a former Carlisle boxer and the bare-knuckle fighter turned actor Derek Decca Heggie reached a bloody climax as the two sought to “batter the brains out of each other,” a court heard.

The gory confrontation was the result of a series of confrontational videos posted on the internet by Mr Heggie and his opponent Daniel Christie.

But the videos – seen by tens of thousands of people on YouTube - and the fight meant that 37-year-old Christie had breached a Carlisle Crown Court restraining order which was meant to ban any contact with Mr Heggie.

Christie, of Sewell Road, Currock, admitted four offences of flouting the order, which Judge Nicholas Barker had imposed in November 2019, as part of an effort to bring an end to the bitter and ultimately violent feud.

Prosecutor Brendan Burke outlined how Mr Heggie had involved himself in “bare-knuckle fighting.” The restraining order arose from a bare-knuckle fight being arranged and an allegation that Mr Heggie was being harassed.

The first breach of the restraining order happened on November 5, 2021, when Christie – in response to an offer to fight from Mr Heggie –explained he could not take part in a fight because of the restraining order.

But he added: “Come looking for me and I’ll split your wig, there and then. Try me”

The second breach was a week later – when another video showed the two men taking part in an organised and protracted bare-knuckle fight between the two men, involving “extreme levels of violence” and two referees.

The third restraining order breach happened on November 14, in yet another You Tube video in which Christie addressing Mr Heggie about their fight, expressing satisfaction.

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The final breach came on November 27 after Mr Heggie, clearly annoyed with Christie, posted a video, criticised him for saying that the odds had been stacked against him because he had too little time to prepare.

Christie responded, commenting that in the fight he had “broken” Mr Heggie’s face but then spared him from “final humiliation”.

“I should say Mr Heggie invited a second round in his post,” said Mr Burke. The barrister said Mr Heggie was presumably making money out of November 12 fight, it having been shown on multiple internet channels. On Heggie’s YouTube channel alone, the video of the fight had generated 200,000 hits.

Russel Davies, defending, said the case was perhaps unique because the victim in the case, Mr Heggie, had actively encouraged – goaded even – the defendant to breach the restraining order which was imposed to protect him.

In late October last year, the police were so concerned about the threats of violence to Christie in a video posted by Mr Heggie that they had visited the defendant. “The defendant’s attitude was very clear,” said the barrister.

“Although he took the threats seriously, he had no intention of engaging with Heggie but at that stage he didn’t want to make a complaint.” That was a mistake, said the barrister. Mr Davies said Mr Heggie was receiving income because of the fight video.

The defendant had made not a single penny. Had Christie had complained to the police, Mr Heggie would have been stopped in his tracks and charges may have followed, said Mr Davies.

Passing sentence, Judge Nicholas Barker told Christie that Mr Heggie shared “significant responsibility” for what happened, but it was the defendant who was subject to a non-contact restraining order.

“You should not have gone to the gym on November 12,” said the judge. “You should have proceeded with trying to contact the police… This is an unusual [case] because the breach on November 12, which resulted in the fight I have seen on that YouTube channel, which is unpleasant and offensive to right-thinking people.

“It showed two men in a slugfest, seeking to batter the brains out of each other; eventually the pair of you, covered in blood from head to toe, beat each other into senseless submission for what? Bravado? Macho posturing?”

Good sense should have prompted Christie to go to the police, said the judge. The judge noted Christie’s difficulties, including his problems with drugs and alcohol, which he is now addressing and an emotional personality disorder.

Though the offences deserved prison, Judge Barker said he would take an exceptional course and he suspended the 12-month jail term he imposed for two years.

In addition, Christie must complete 40 rehabilitation activity days and serve a four-month 7pm to 5am curfew.

If Mr Heggie came knocking on his door, Christie had only one course of action open to him: to report it to the police immediately. “Any other course of action will result in you going to prison,” warned the judge.

Judge Barker added that if Christie is so offended by Mr Heggie, he could seek other remedies, including an injunction from the civil courts.

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