Two original members of the pop group Busted found themselves facing legal bills of £1.7 million yesterday after losing their claim that they were owed £10 million in royalties.

Ki McPhail and Owen Doyle were described by the judge as “unreliable witnesses” after a 19-day trial during which they said that they had co-written many of the boy band’s biggest hits.

In 2001, the pair said, they had helped their fellow band members James Bourne and Matt Willis to write Year 3000, What I Go to School For, Sleeping With the Light On and Psycho Girl, all of which reached at least No 3 in the UK charts. They told the court that they had been forced by “threats” and “undue pressure” to sign away their rights after they were sacked from the band and Richard Rashman became manager.

But Mr Justice Morgan said in his ruling at the High Court yesterday: “Ki was not a reliable and convincing witness. He quite plainly exaggerated and distorted the real event.

“If he did believe the evidence he gave to the court, it can only be because he has indulged in very extensive self-serving reconstruction.”

Doyle “was not a reliable witness either”, the judge said. “He manifested a high degree of confusion and a failure to grasp the detail in relation to many of the significant events.”

In a statement after the trial, McPhail and Doyle said that they would appeal against the decision. “Owen, Ki and their families are very disappointed and frustrated at the judgment made here today,” the statement said. “They came to court for justice and for the deserved recognition as co-writers of Busted’s songs.

“An appeal will be launched immediately.”

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