A MEMBER of an all-male singing group from the United States had to be treated in hospital in Edinburgh for a broken nose after refusing demands for money by a beggar.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court had been told the attack, in the city's Grassmarket, came on the group's first visit to Scotland.
Neil McKay, 21, of Niddrie Mains Drive, Edinburgh, yesterday was put on probation for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service. He was also told to seek treatment for his alcohol problem.
He had been found guilty after a two-day trial last month of assaulting 19-year-old Alexander Reeve, of Beacon Street, Boston, on March 25 and of committing a breach of the peace. Sentence was deferred for background reports.
Mr Reeve and his friends were part of an all-male singing group, The Logarithms, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They usually travelled within the States every two years but the 12-strong group decided to go further afield this spring. It was the first overseas trip in their 50-year history.
Mr Reeve told the court he and his friends were returning to their hostel after drinking in a Grassmarket pub when they were approached by a beggar. Although they refused to give the man any money, he continued to ''pester'' them. Mr Reeve said: ''I heard him yell 'I'll cut your throat' and he had one of my friends in a headlock''.
The engineering student said a struggle had broken out and a second man, whom he identified as McKay, had jumped on one of his friends. Reeve pulled McKay back but when he let him go he was punched on the face and his nose was broken.
After the trial, Mr Reeve said they had been singing outside Buckingham Palace just days before the attack and had planned to continue their show of rock and pop songs on Edinburgh's Royal Mile. They left the city without performing.
Defence agent Darryl Lovie said McKay had been abusing alcohol and drugs for years but with the help and support of his girlfriend, he was now clear of drugs. Unfortunately, he still consumed alcohol.
Mr Lovie said that for a period of time his client had been living rough on the streets. ''He is fully aware the encounter must have been distressing and painful for the young American,'' said Mr Lovie.
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