Pair remanded over alleged plot targeting singer

TWO men were remanded in custody in connection with an alleged plot targeting soul singer Joss Stone.

Junior Bradshaw, 30, and Kevin Liverpool, 33, both from St Stephen’s Close, Manchester, appeared in front of magistrates in Exeter charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.

The two were arrested in the Devon town of Cullompton on Monday, near the home of 24-year-old Stone, whose hits include Super Duper Love and Fell In Love With A Boy and who has an estimated £9 million (€10.25m) fortune.

The two men spoke only to confirm their identities during the hearing. They will next appear at Exeter Crown Court on July 1.

Both men stood in the dock casually dressed, Liverpool in a black T-shirt and Bradshaw, who had dreadlocks pulled into short pigtails, wearing a grey sweatshirt.

The court was told that the pair were arrested on the St Andrews Estate in Cullompton after being seen acting suspiciously in the area around the village of Langford in a Fiat Punto on Monday morning.

Items including a samurai sword were found in the car, the magistrates were told.

Magistrates remanded the pair in custody after ruling that the charges and allegations were too serious to allow then to be released on bail. They made no comment as they were remanded.

They will appear for a preliminary hearing at Exeter Crown Court in two weeks.

No members of the Stone family were in court for the hearing, which lasted around 40 minutes.

Prosecutor Ann Hampshire told the magistrates that notes relating to Stone had been found in the defendants’ car.

Speaking after the incident, the singer said: “I’d like to thank everyone for their concern but I’m absolutely fine and getting on with life as normal while the police continue with their inquiries.”