Three guilty of assaulting homeless man

THREE men carried out an unprovoked attack on a homeless man after leaving an Edinburgh nightspot, a court heard.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday heard Derek Connelly, 30, David Hill, 31, and Michael Pritchard, 20, repeatedly punched Bravo Bromfield, who had been sitting on the street.

Fiscal depute Ruth Ross-Davies said: "The incident took place at around 7pm at the Cowgate, Edinburgh, when Connelly, Hill and Pritchard had left The Three Sisters pub and were making their way along the Cowgate.

"They came upon Mr Bromfield, a homeless person sitting in the Cowgate.

"There would appear to be no reason for Connelly, Hill and Pritchard setting about Bromfield and punching him repeatedly on his head and his body."

The court heard Mr Bromfield suffered bruising to his head and body but declined medical attention.

Ms Ross-Davies added that the three men had co-operated with police but did not make any admissions at the outset.

Connelly, of Edinburgh Prison, Hill, of Barn Park, Edinburgh, and Pritchard, of the same address, admitted repeatedly punching Mr Bromfield on the head and body to his injury on 31 July last year.

Sheriff James Scott deferred sentence until next month for background reports, when pleas in mitigation will also be heard.