Cold blooded killers will spend 46 years in jail for the murder of Tanis Bhandari

TWO men have been jailed for life – with a minimum term of 23 years – for the murder of Tanis Bhandari on New Year's Day.

Donald Pemberton was found guilty of jointly murdering the 27-year-old builder and injuring four other men.

The jury at Plymouth Crown Court appeared to have reached deadlock after deliberating for 13 hours and 55 minutes since they were sent out on Tuesday morning by Mr Justice Nigel Teare.

At 11.34am yesterday he informed the jury of seven women and five men he would accept majority verdicts if they were unable to return a unanimous ones.

A little over an hour later they returned to seal Pemberton's fate. He was found guilty on the count of murder, three counts of wounding with intent and one count of actual bodily harm, each with an 11 to 1 majority.

Despite being asked by the judge to remain silent during the verdicts being read out, stifled gasps and crying could be heard from the public gallery, which has remained full for nearly every day of the 16-day trial.

Tanis Bhandari

Pemberton, aged 21, gave no great reaction as the verdicts were read out. He appeared to look around the court room, place his hands on his hips and behind his back, occasionally rubbing his face with the back of his hands.

Pemberton, of Victoria Road, St Budeaux, and his co-defendant, Ryan Williams, of Haydon Grove, St Budeaux – who pleaded guilty to all five charges on the fourth day of the trial – were brought back to the dock in the afternoon where their respective advocates offered mitigation in their defence.

Pemberton, who throughout the trial had been dressed in a dark grey shirt and black tie, had changed into a black and grey sweat-top, while 22-year-old Williams, appeared in a light blue shirt and dark tie.

Paul Dunkels, QC, said his client Ryan Williams had shown "absolute cowardice" in attacking unarmed strangers and was "undoubtedly an immature young man."

He said Williams had never set out to kill, but accepted that they did set out to cause serious injury – in itself enough to make him guilty of the offence.

He noted their "escalating behaviour" on the way down the hill to Tamerton Foliot green.

He said Williams was "relishing the reaction which their behaviour was achieving, their sense of power over others and the people who backed away.

"The final group stood up for themselves as they were entitled to do. It was a situation entirely of Donald Pemberton's and Ryan Williams' making."

Mr Dunkels said that Williams wanted to posture with the weapons and verbally abuse those men he had targeted from Facebook.

He said it was a "small step" from carrying a knife to using it.

He stressed the defendant's age and immaturity but said he had seen the need to plead guilty on the fourth day of the trial.

Pemberton and Williams

Mr Dunkels said: "To paraphrase, he said he saw the family and friends of Tanis Bhandari in court and what they were having to go through. He saw their pain and upset.

"He then indicated to us that he wanted to be no part of prolonging their ordeal in having to observe the trial.

"He realises that the hurt caused goes far wider than just those victims but embraces their families and friends and to some extent his own family.

"He understands how much his actions have affected the lives of others.

"He is sorry for what he did that night. He has remorse. He realises that none of that will bring comfort to those grieving.

"His actions of January 1 were those of absolute cowardice but he is a young man who, knowing the consequence was a very long time in prison, has shown some courage in taking the decision to plead guilty."

Pemberton's advocate, Martin Meeke, QC, said his client suffered "significant mental health difficulties" and revealed his suicide attempt just four weeks before the incident on the Tamerton Foliot green.

Mr Meeke said a psychiatrist who has assessed Pemberton suspected developing schizophrenia, although the court also heard his symptoms may have been caused by his regular mephedrone abuse.

The barrister said he still suffered those symptoms even after going to prison and withdrawing from the drug.

Mr Meeke said that Pemberton's suicide attempt had taken place on December 2, and that he was on the lowest possible measure on the Glasgow Coma scale – the measure of a casualty's consciousness.

Mr Meeke said it showed it was a "serious attempt".

He speculated that the events of New Year's Day may have had their roots back to 2007 when Pemberton himself was the victim of a street attack.

Mr Meeke said his mother had reported that he suffered a fractured cheekbone, but 13-year-old Pemberton did not give evidence against the main offender.

The court heard that he nevertheless was branded a "grass" or informer at his school.

Mr Meeke said he had started off confidently at secondary school but underwent a "significant change" after the attack.

The barrister said the defendant came to believe that others were "out to get him" and thought that he needed to carry weapons as a result.

He added that Pemberton showed empathy for Mr Bhandari's family when he read a statement from her mother.

Mr Meeke said: "He observed: 'I have written letters to his mum but ripped them up because I did not want her to feel awkward'."

He added he could not recall the events of the night of the affray in Anstis Street when he had brandished meat cleavers at a group of Polish men, because he had been drinking.

But Mr Meeke said that when shown the dramatic CCTV footage Pemberton branded his own behaviour as "disgusting".

He could not recall where he had picked up the weapons.

Mr Meeke urged Mr Justice Teare to pass a minimum term "so as not to crush utterly the hope in this young man".

Tamerton Foliot

Mr Justice Teare described how the two men had confronted the "happy and carefree" group of young men and women who had left The Kings Arms public house shortly after 1.30am.

He said there was "no doubt" Pemberton had the axe and Williams had a large kitchen knife and that one of them had a smaller knife.

He said both defendants were in "an aggressive mood", aiming to take the weapons to a confrontation "with someone who had angered Pemberton".

The mixture of verbal insults, threats, aggressive behaviour led to Williams getting out the large knife and putting it to the neck of a young man "no doubt causing extreme fear".

Mr Justice Teare told the court Pemberton pulled out the axe and "lunged" at Tanis's group.

He added: "One or more of the group reacted with courage by jumping on him, in – as described by one witness – 'a mission' to get the axe off him.

"They succeeded, but Williams joined in and stabbed Tanis Bhandari in the back with the large knife."

He said Williams also stabbed Jamie Healy. Sean Cordon was also stabbed in the back and Mr Justice Teare said this could have been by Pemberton, "but I cannot be sure."

He said: "The result of this unnecessary and unprovoked action was that Tanis Bhandari lost his life. Jamie Healy suffered very serious injuries. his life was saved by doctors. Fortunately the injuries of Sean Cordon, George Walker and Matthew Daw were less serious."

The judge noted the victim impact statements he had received, noting one from Tanis's mother.

He said Tanis died aged just 27, leaving a mother, father, stepfather, grandfather, seven brothers and sisters together with nieces and nephews.

He said Tanis was a "much loved member of the community of Tamerton Foliot as the memorial on the green shows."

He added: "His unexpected and unnecessary death and what happened on a night of celebration and optimism for the future has changed his family's lives forever."

After passing sentence the two men were led away by the eight dock officers who had remained with them. As they turned towards the door a member of Pemberton's family called out "love you Don, always".

HOW POLICE FOUND JUSTICE FOR TANIS

A NIGHT of friendly revelry turned "into a complete nightmare" which could easily have seen more than just one murder, say detectives who carried out the inquiry.

Det Insp Ian Ringrose, Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) and Det Sgt Chris Rooney (deputy SIO) spoke to The Herald about the lengthy and thorough investigation which resulted in one man admitting his guilt just four days into the trial and the other being found guilty of all charges by a marjority verdict on the 16th day.

Det Sgt Rooney noted what many in the city realised after the details came out during the trial – that the victims could have been anybody on that day.

He said: "This could have happened to so many people. Everyone could be put into the position that Tanis Bhandari was. We could have been looking at two or even three murders. Any one of those people involved in this altercation could have been the deceased.

"They [Williams and Pemberton] had intent to cause harm. They weren't going out as New Year's revellers."

As they gathered statements from witnesses, investigators became keenly aware of a singular issue regarding traumatic incidents involving a large number of people who had been drinking. No two stories were exactly the same. Det Insp Ringrose said: "It can happen in such situations. You can get tunnel vision."

Despite there being a knife used at the scene, few remembered even seeing such a weapon.

Det Insp Ringrose said: "Knives are so dangerous and a knife is easily concealed."

Det Sgt Rooney said: "Some witnesses who were there had different versions of the incident. One had nothing. It's very understandable because this was the most horrific incident anyone there has ever been involved with."

Det Insp Ringrose, agreed, adding: "Including the police officers who turned up."

The investigators said around 10 999 calls were made to police and the ambulance service that night.

Officers arrived and instantly had to deal with multiple scenes – Station Road where Tanis lay dying, the green where the attack took place, The Kings Arms public house where witnesses and injured victims were taken, as well as the lengthy of Milford Lane where the suspects were last seen.

Det Sgt Rooney said: "There were police cars and ambulances all around the area. I can't get my head around all that those officers and paramedics had to do that night – different scenes to control, different locations to be at, numerous injured and distressed people."

As equally proud of his fellow officers and colleagues in the ambulance service, Det Sgt Rooney and Det Insp Ringrose have heaped praise on the victims of the terrifying assault, their families and the wider Tamerton Foliot community.

Det Sgt Rooney said: "The impact on the community cannot be underestimated. The thing that has stood out for me is the number of people affected by this, right across the Tamerton Foliot community.

"The support we've had from the families has been brilliant. Jamie Healy, George Walker, Sean Cordon, Matthew Daw, the family and friends of Tanis Bhandari – they have shown absolute dignity and the people of Tamerton Foliot helped us from the very first day.

"We've been able to go into a great deal of detail, carried out house to house inquiries, work out the exact route the pair travelled."

Some of the witnesses came forward of their own volition while investigators were able to trace others.

Det Sgt Rooney said: "Each added a piece to our inquiry. Sometimes it was thought by the witness to be a small, seemingly insignificant piece, but ultimately it showed what they [Williams and Pemberton] were heading towards."

Det Insp Ringrose agreed, noting: "They weren't out there as victims. They were out there looking for victims. They made sure of that. They stacked the odds in their favour from the outset.

"It turned into a complete nightmare. No-one could have second guessed what Williams and Pemberton would have done that night."

Det Sgt Rooney concurs, adding: "I hope no-one would ever find themselves in that situation. For whatever reasons they [Williams and Pemberton] left the party intent on doing something terrible."

And terrible it was, as Det Sgt Rooney said some witnesses, including police and paramedics, talked about seeing a scene which they thought they would "only ever see in a film".

Looking back at the case and the comments from witnesses, Det Sgt Rooney returns to the single most worrying aspect of the case – the complete randomness of the victims.

He said: "What makes it unique for me is who it could have been that night. We've had witnesses turn around and genuinely say 'that could've been me'. We had four people who could have been the victims just seconds before Williams and Pemberton attacked the larger group."

Det Sgt Rooney also noted how Tanis Bhandari suffered two wounds to his back while both Sean Cordon and Jamie Healy also suffered wounds to their backs.

Without making further comment about the cowardice an attack from behind on three men was, Det Sgt Rooney suggests the injuries themselves were "particularly telling" about the person who inflicted them.

A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

JURORS were made aware of both men's criminal past and their use of weapons before they were asked to return a verdict.

Usually, a jury is kept ignorant of past misdemeanours of those in the dock. They are told by the judge the prosecutors have to convince them of a person's guilty and each defendant appears before them with a clean slate.

However, the Criminal Justice Act of 2003 allowed – in certain circumstances – prosecutors to inform a jury about a defendant's "bad character".

The legislation means a court hears "evidence of or a disposition towards misconduct"

Simon Laws QC for the Crown Prosecution Service successfully argued to be allowed to tell the jury of previous convictions of both Williams and Pemberton.

In March 2009 Williams was convicted of being in possession of offensive weapons – a hammer and golf club – in St Budeaux Square.

In August the same year he was charged with affray and criminal damage after intimidating a neighbour and making threats to kill by burning down the neighbours' housing with his children inside. The jury was told the neighbour had to move home but when he came to collect his belongings, Williams attacked him with a garden spade.

In June 2010 Williams was found in a public place with a five inch kitchen knife.

In March 2011 he threatened a bus driver in Wolseley Road with a kitchen knife.

The driver, who was on his break, had received abuse from a small group of youths which included Williams. As the driver got back on his bus, Williams followed him and brandished the knife saying: "I will stab you up, cut you up you pussyo" before lunging at the driver.

Fortunately the terrified driver was able to shut the doors in time.

The jury was told that on Christmas Eve, 2011 police were called about an argument in Torpoint between Williams and a young woman at an address.

Williams had threatened to stab the girl with a knife.

He was later found by police officers at a taxi rank in Ferry Road, Devonport, drunk and with a eight inch kitchen knife in his sock.

After initially pleading not guilty he was convicted of the offence in November 2012.

He was handed a 12 month jail term and told by the judge "The knives are getting bigger".

The jury was told Pemberton, pleaded guilty to battery after an unprovoked assault on a man on December 24, 2013 outside Jesters nightclub in Union Street. The court was told he "swore and taunted a male" who walked away. Pemberton ran up to him and punched him in the face.

A court report by The Herald saw the prosecutor explain how Pemberton had become aggressive initially to a group of revellers, shouting "come on then, let's have it". Pemberton went on to lash out at two police officers called to the scene.

Pemberton later claimed he was "too drunk" to remember what was happening.

During the murder trial, he was asked why he carried out such an unprovoked attack, to which he replied the man he punched had "annoyed" him.

The jury in the murder trial were not told that in mitigation, his defence solicitor told the district judge Pemberton was a "young man of just 19" who had "put in an application to join the army".

The solicitor added: "if only the court could sentence to two years in the army, I think that would be sufficient for this young man".

At the time the district judge told Pemberton: "You are within a whisker of me saying that a custodial sentence is appropriate", before handing him a fine and ordered him to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.

In September 2014 Pemberton pleaded guilty to an offence which took place in June the same year after he was found to be in possession of a machete in Uxbridge Drive.

The murder trial jury was later told he had kept the machete down his trousers and did not pull it out.

The Herald's court report states that Pemberton had bought the machete from a friend which he wanted as a "decorative item" for his bedroom.

He was outside the Bull and Bush pub in Uxbridge Drive, Ernesettle to meet a friend. He showed the item to his friend "but", his defence solicitor said "kept it primarily in its sheaf. It was not fully removed and it was not brandished, nor were any threats made. He tells me he had no intention of using it."

The solicitor added that Pemberton: "essentially panicked when he realised the police were on the scene and disposed of the knife, in what was perhaps a realisation on his part of the trouble he was in".

In mitigation, the court was told he was helping to care for his mother who had cancer, ever since he lost his job at a quarry.

He was jailed by magistrates for four months.

He was released in November after serving half his sentence.

The jury were told that on December 15, 2014 Pemberton and three other young men got a taxi to the city centre.

The Herald has learned the trip came about following a Facebook exchange.

A witness walking home from a Christmas party later told police he saw two men running along the street, both looking scared and frantic.

Moments later he was confronted by four males asking him where the two other men went, saying they wanted to "teach them a lesson".

The witness told police they seemed "intimidating, confrontational, angry".

One of the men – Pemberton – had what the witness described as two "butcher type knives", later found to be meat cleavers, had said: "We're going to cut them up".

Video footage, taken from Anstis Street, clearly showed Pemberton brandishing the two cleavers, threatening a group of other men who passed by.

Pemberton was arrested the following day.

The murder jury were shown the dramatic footage and told Pemberton pleaded guilty to the offence of affray on October 19 this year.

KILLER FRIENDS FOR JUST SIX WEEKS

THE jury heard how the two men whose actions led to Tanis Bhandari's death and serious injuries to four others had only been friend for a handful of weeks.

The court heard how the two had attended the same school, but with Williams a year older, the pair had not mixed.

It was only when Williams started dating Pemberton's sister, Suzie, and Pemberton was released from prison in mid-November, that the two got to know each other.

Over the next six weeks their few Facebook images capture their kind of friendship – arms over each others shoulders, giving the finger, grinning alongside cans and bottles of alcohol or snarling as they brandish weapons.

DENIAL OF A MURDERER'S MOTHER

A FEW days ahead of the trial The Herald asked Pemberton's mother Suzanne asked if she wanted to speak about her son, of his childhood, his hopes and dreams as a young boy and what may have led him to become him fascinated with knives and violence.

Mrs Pemberton declined to talk to The Herald.

Her only statement, offered forcefully, was: "My son never hurt no-one. What you printed in the paper was lies.

"The police told me what you printed was lies. We don't want to talk to you people. You just print lies.

"You will see the truth in court."

At the home of Williams, there was no answer the week before the trial.

While one next-door neighbour's home showed an assortment of bikes and scooters, the other side revealed a well-tended garden.

Each of the neighbours who answered The Herald's door knock blanched at the mention of Williams and made it plain they were fearful about speaking on the matter.

One man shook his head worriedly at the mention of Williams and closed the door quickly saying: "No, no sorry mate, I just don't want to talk about him, I don't want to get involved."

Another neighbour, a woman, responded similarly at the mention of Williams, her smile dropping immediately as she whispered: "I don't want to get involved."

CAUGHT ON FILM BEFORE THE ATTACK

A CHILLING video captures Tanis Bhandari's killers just moments before they committed their violent murder.

The CCTV footage shows Ryan Williams and Donald Pemberton casually walking towards the green at Tamerton Foliot, where they brutally murdered Plymouth builder Tanis, 22.

The Herald has obtained the film after Pemberton, aged 21 and of Victoria Road, St Budeaux, was found guilty of Tanis' murder.

A jury also found him guilty on three counts of wounding with intent and one count of actual bodily harm.

Co-defendant Williams, 22, of Haydon Grove, St Budeaux, pleaded guilty to all five charges earlier in the trial.

CCTV SHOWED PEMBERTON WITH CLEAVERS IN STREET

COULD the murder of Tanis Bhandari have been avoided?

That question is now being asked after The Herald learned how Pemberton's arrest on December 16, 2014 could have seen him returned to prison for failing to comply with his licence.

Following his conviction for assaulting a man on Christmas Eve, 2013, Pemberton was handed a 12 month community order on January 12, 2014.

On June 13, he was arrested after he was found to be in possession of a machete in public.

As a result, on September 2, 2014, Pemberton was handed a four month jail sentence by district judge Kevin Gray at Plymouth Magistrates' Court.

He was released from prison after serving two months, but his arrest on December 16 – having been spotted the previous night on CCTV brandishing two meat cleavers in Anstis Street, Stonehouse – saw him interviewed by police.

It is believed he was not charged at the time and released on police bail pending further inquiries.

According to court reports seen by The Herald, Pemberton appeared at Plymouth Magistrates Court on January 16, 2015 – just over two weeks after the murder of Tanis Bhandari.

The case, brought by Devon and Cornwall Probation, related to the Anstis Street incident.

The court document states that Pemberton: "being a person under supervision, under section 65 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, failed to comply with a requirement specified in a notice from the Secretary of State in that failed to comply with a licence condition; to be well behaved, not commit any offence and not do anything which could undermine the purpose of your supervision, which is to protect the public, prevent you from reoffending and help you to resettle successfully into the community."

The matter was adjourned until January 23, 2015 "at request of the prosecution to consider if proceeding".

However, on January 23, the charged was "withdrawn". Court papers stated that the reason was "at the request of probation."

The Herald has learned that a Serious Further Offence review has been carried out by the Ministry of Justice to determine the decision-making around Pemberton by the probation service following his arrest on December 16.

However, a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said the findings of reviews were not made public but that the families of victims were entitled to a summary of the review.

Sources have told The Herald the review has examined decisions made by probation officers at the time of his arrest in mid December.

It is understood options that may have been available was Pemberton could have been given a condition, such as an electronic tag, a curfew or returned to prison to complete his four-month sentence.

It is not known whether the Crown Prosecution Service considered approving a charge of affray on December 16 2014 following his arrest, which may have also resulted in him being brought to court.

POLICE WELCOME SENTENCE FOR SENSELESS KILLING

THE PLYMOUTH police officers who led the investigation into the 'senseless' Tanis Bhandari murder have welcomed the guilty verdict.

Donald Pemberton was yesterday found guilty by a jury of the murder and four other charges, while Ryan Williams pleaded guilty to all charges earlier in the trial.

Both men were involved in the attack on Mr Bhandari in the village of Tamerton Foliot on New Year's Day this year.

Detective Inspector Ian Ringrose from Devon and Cornwall Police's Major Crime Investigation Team said: "We welcome the guilty verdict which will see both Donald Pemberton and Ryan Williams serve life sentences for the murder of Tanis Bhandari.

"Both men have not only been convicted of Tanis' murder, but also for assaults on Jamie Healy, Sean Cordon, George Walker and Matthew Daw.

"This was a senseless, unprovoked and horrific attack on a group of friends celebrating the New Year. Tanis Bhandari lost his life at the age of 27 years and the attack has had a profound impact on the victims, their families, friends and the community."

Det Insp Ringrose added: "The Major Crime Investigation Team conducted a thorough investigation into the tragic events that night. However, the result would not have been possible without the actions of officers who attended the incident on the night and support of the community, in particular the very close community of Tamerton Foliot.

"I would like to thank everyone who assisted the investigation and who have supported police throughout.

"Tanis' family, the victims who survived, their family, friends and the community have acted with dignity throughout this ordeal.

"I hope that the outcome today will allow everyone who has been affected to gain some kind of closure and help recover from this traumatic crime."

PEMBERTON TRIED TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE

THE MAN jointly found guilty of murdering Tanis Bhandari and injuring four others attempted to take his own life just a few weeks before the incident in Tamerton Foliot.

The teenager revealed how he and his father were alerted to a young man – now identified as Donald Pemberton – who attempted to harm himself near their home in Ernesettle at around 12.55am on December 2, 2014.

The father told The Herald how his son had heard shouts coming from a nearby wooded area and the pair of them went to investigate.

He said they spotted a young woman who told them "he's going to kill himself".

The father said his son was shocked to find a 20-year-old man hanging from a tree, a bag full of empty cans of lager nearby.

Despite the distressing scene, the father and son worked to help support the man and police arrived shortly after to take over.

Sources have told The Herald the man, now identified Pemberton, was described by the authorities as "vulnerable" and "suicidal" and had "tried to hang himself in the summer".

Other sources revealed the man had been under the influence of alcohol and drugs, had then been involved in an argument with a young woman and had run off prior to being found hanging from a tree.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said officers carried out CPR at the scene until paramedics arrived. The man was later taken to Derriford Hospital for further treatment.

On more than one occasion the jury were informed of Pemberton's mental health problems.

In his written statement, offered to police during one of his first interviews, Pemberton revealed: "I do have mental health problems which affect the way I think and put my thoughts to others, particularly if I'm under stress."

The jury were later told about a police custody note which stated how Pemberton was in the care of Plymouth's mental health team.

The officer who made the note on the afternoon of New Year's Day, revealed how he had spoken to someone from the local mental health team who revealed how Pemberton was "part of the insight team".

Det Sgt David Miller, answering from the witness box confirmed that the custody record noted how Pemberton was "prescribed mental health medication".

However, the court was told by barristers that the 21-year-old's mental health problems "have no bearing on or relation to events on January 1 in Tamerton Foliot with which the jury are concerned".

Anyone affected by issues raised in this incident can call the Samaritans on 116123 or 01752 221666.

HOW FACEBOOK HELPED TO CATCH THE KILLERS

FACEBOOK advertises itself as a place for friends to connect, old friends to reconnect, even a place for new friends to be made.

Not everyone uses it this way.

For some, it's a spotlight to show others just how big, just how hard, just how dangerous they think they are.

Donald Pemberton was a particular fan of the social networking site.

Instead of happy family photos and pictures of holidays, Pemberton's timeline is littered with images of him, beer can clutched in one hand, a middle finger on display or an attempt at a gang-symbol.

Sometimes the pictures are of him with his arms around his friends' shoulders (see page 4), the can and the finger or two still on show.

On occasion, the can is replaced by a weapon. One image from his timeline even showed him waving a knife back and forth (see page 4) as he sits nonchalantly next to a friend.

One December 27 he changed his profile picture to one of him sitting side by side with Ryan Williams (see page 4). Pemberton was showing off his L O V E tattoo on his fingers – and his ACAB [All Coppers Are B****ards] on his knuckles – while Williams was giving the photographer the finger.

At 9.59pm four days later – on New Year's Eve – Pemberton changed his profile picture again. But this time it was just him with his blue T-shirt, his gold bracelet and a large meat cleaver grasped in his right hand.

Around 6.45pm on New Years Eve, a young Plymouth man called Dale Hewitt was made aware he was being threatened on the social networking site.

In response, his friends told him on his Facebook page to keep his "nose clean and just chill" while others urged him "Calm down Dale! You don't wanna end up in a cell tonight love".

Dale was angry and replied: "I'll kill any **** that says there going through my Mum's door so ******* bring it Don Pemberton". Minutes later he urged "all my haters write to me, ready and ******* waiting".

Pemberton was busy with his own Facebook, changing his profile picture at 10.58pm.

This latest picture showed him bare-chested, brandishing tattoos on his right arm and his conflicting LOVE and ACAB tattoos on his left hand.

In his right hand he brandishes one of his brother's "collectable" weapons – a huge machete.

By 11.33pm Dale asked his friends where Don lived adding "I'll hit him before he does me".

Just 11 minutes later, Pemberton began writing on Dale's Facebook page, stating "Yh I will ya mug I'm gonna get ya ya ******* fairy."

Dale responded, noting "look at da state ov ya joke puttin pics up wid blades to make urself look big grow da **** up n stop talking black u lil wnabe gangster."

In response at 11.50pm Pemberton wrote: "Haha well watch when I am in front of ya with barrel to your chest see how much of braveheart u are den init big boy"

A few minutes later, Dale's mother – whom Dale claimed Pemberton had threatened online – joined the discourse, calling him a "lil boy".

The mother told Pemberton she was at home, while telling Dale she could "handle lil mugs like that".

When asked his whereabouts by Dale, at 12.03am, Pemberton replied: "Tameton (sic) foliot u little waste n so **** ya mum she aint my mum so I don't give a **** let's have a meet."

Pemberton continued his tirade of abuse at both Dale and his mother for the next few minutes, even urging Dale to come to meet him, adding "U gonna grant me wish an come to me pleaaaaseeeee bruv I will pay for ya taxi".

When Dale claimed he knew where Pemberton's mother lived, saying he would see him soon, Pemberton replied at 12.12am: "Haha I hope u do bro I'm gonna stab ya liver in swear on her life and she got cancer, when I see ya I'm giving the best I got ya skid mark".

He quickly followed this with: "U can act hard but we'll see when I'm in front of ya thought u was coming to me? What's the matter did one ya boys tell ya you get battered if ya comae to me ya wet ****" before adding "**** off ya donut".

By now it was 12.17am, and somewhere in the Tamerton Foliot Pemberton was hitting the screen of his mobile phone.

He made the final change to his profile picture, putting up a mirror-shot of himself, wearing a Adidas top, his hood up and a mask across his lower face.

His hand was up by his face in a "gun" pose.

Moments later he was back on his phone responding to comments by Dale's mother, who derided the youth's threats.

At 12.26am he told her to "watch" while replied "mug".

Pemberton went on to ask why she was getting involved, which made her own son "look like a goon".

Another relative of Dale's joined in the barrage against Pemberton, saying he was going to head to his home. The friend wrote: I want to know where he lives coz the ******** fools is getting a visit has he had any ******** experience in hurting someone with a butter knife let alone a knife/cleaver/or any sort of blade, I want to know where he is TONIGHT ******* ****ed off with kids thinking they'll wave a blade around & get respect for it by many, well in my time that **** got people propa chopped up text where I can find this ******* mug".

Pemberton replied to Dale's friend at 12.35am, telling him to keep his nose out or he would get "battered".

At 12.55am Pemberton replied to more derision from Dale's mother with more insults.

His last Facebook response came on January 1 at 1.01am when he wrote "Yhyh".

The jury were told that during his aggressive exchanges with Mr Hewitt, Pemberton was also embroiled in another war of words with Kane Swabey.

Pemberton revealed that Mr Swabey had since deleted all his Facebook comments, leaving only Pemberton's responses.

In addition, Pemberton told the jury he was also in contact with Mr Swabey and Mr Hewitt via BBM (Blackberry Messenger) which could not be archived or tracked, causing these messages to effectively disappear.

He claimed Mr Swabey asked to meet him in Budshead Road, but added that his former friend was known to him to carry weapons.

Pemberton told the court: "He said he was on his way to my mums. He used to be my friend and knows where my mum lives."

In reply to Mr Swabey posts, asking where he was, Pemberton responded in turn in the run up to his departure from his brother's home in Tamerton Foliot on New Year's Day

His replies included: "I said Tamerton Foliot Kane you little ****head.

"Come here braveheart.

"Mate shuttup you grass.

"I know what you're about you scouse wannabe.

"Haha, I will be there in 25."

Less than half an hour later police were receiving calls from frightened revellers who had been threatened by Williams with a knife. Moments later the emergency services received a flurry of calls from Tanis's group, calling for paramedics to treat those injured by the attacks.

The ambulance service said three ambulances and two rapid response vehicles were requested at 1.39am.

This was not the first time Pemberton used Facebook to self-aggrandise his tough-guy credentials.

In January 2014 he appeared in court after he admitted attacking a man in Union Street on Christmas Eve.

Early on January 13, using a Blackberry phone, he noted "court ina min wish me luck x"

By the afternoon he announced he had "got 150 comunity (sic) service and 260 quid fine lol they was talking about custody sentances (sic) and that haha xx"

Answering questions he admitted "abh" – actual bodily harm.

Three days later he posted The Herald's report on his Facebook page, which was headlined "Teen too drunk to remember attack is spared a jail sentence".

The report noted how after the unprovoked assault where he punched a man, he became aggressive to two response officers. The report stated how one officer deployed his Taser and Pemberton 'tried to grab the Taser out of his hand and the officer suffered an injured thumb.'

However, in his Facebook post he claimed to his friends: "It said in the paper that the po po tried deploying a taser as I tried to grab it! It was already deployed and stuck my chest mate I got tazered twice haha."

In response, one of his female Facebook friends criticised Pemberton, telling him: "It's not something to be proud of don"

Predictably, Pemberton replied: "Shat ap [shut up], I'm well chuffed"

Undeterred, the girl continued her criticism: "What, cause you made the paper for something stupid?"

Charmless to a fault, Pemberton snapped back: "O shat up [shut up] you t**t".

By comparison Williams' Facebook page appears barren. His only entry for September was to post an image of a handgun, while on December 31 he posted: "loves my girl so much even tho i am the goat in the relationship....... horny as a muthaaa***** constantly !!"

before adding his girlfriend's name – Suzie Pemberton, sister of his co-defendant.