Two men appear in court over Joss Stone 'plot'

Two men have been 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 this morning.

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 fortune.

The men spoke only to confirm their identities during the hearing.

They will next appear at Exeter Crown Court on July 1.

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

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

Stone yesterday insisted she was "absolutely fine" and "getting on with life as normal" after the arrest of the two men.

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."