Victim tells of attack by gang of tweed-clad thugs

Scott Harrower was badly beaten up in the Cowgate. Picture: Ian Georgeson

Scott Harrower was left with a fractured arm and broken nose after the unprovoked assault in the Cowgate area at around 2.30am on Sunday.

Now back at home in The Murrays after two nights in hospital, he said he wanted to speak out to help police find his attackers.

Mr Harrower, a self-employed electrician, had a metal plate fitted in his arm on Monday and faces a lengthy period off work.

He believes he may have blacked out as he cannot remember much of the attack, which was only stopped when several witnesses intervened.

Onlookers told police that six to 12 men – most of whom were wearing tweed suits and brogues – were involved in the assault.

Mr Harrower had just said goodnight to a friend he had been drinking with and was walking up Candlemaker Row to get a taxi when he was attacked.

He said: “It was horrendous. I just remember waking up on the road with somebody kicking me in the face. I remember a couple of guys dragging me into a club, the Movement Bar. I was in the first aid room before I was taken into the ambulance.”

He added: “I’ve never had anything like this happen before – it’s sickening. I can remember the guys pulling my arm to get me away from [the gang]. I remember one of them shouting ‘leave him alone’. I’m glad they were there, it could have been worse.”

The 33-year-old, who also has a split eyebrow and cut ear, said he “would have remembered” the smartly-dressed men if he had seen them earlier that night. Officers are examining CCTV footage in the city centre area, and are pursuing various leads after receiving a good response from a public appeal.

It is believed the group may have been a visiting stag party, however police said there were several lines of inquiry.

Mr Harrower said: “If anyone who saw anything or has any information could come forward, that would be much appreciated.

“The police said they were reviewing the CCTV and said they had a couple of leads. One rumour is that it was a stag do from Manchester, but seemingly there were two stag dos dressed the same. One was in the Cowgate, while the other was on the other side of town.”

He also said he wanted to thank passers-by who stopped on the street to help him, and the door staff at Movement who looked after him before paramedics arrived.

Before the incident, he said he always felt safe on nights out in Edinburgh, but his ordeal has made him think twice.

He said: “I was just walking home, I couldn’t remember speaking to anybody or bumping into anybody beforehand.

“We were in one of the bars and I’d had enough for the night and I was on my way home. I normally walk up to the other side of Teviot by Potterrow to get a taxi. I’ve done that 100 times.”

He said hospital staff were “brilliant” and thanked his family and friends for support. He will have to complete a course of physiotherapy to build up strength in his broken arm.

Police thanked the public for their response so far. The men are described as being in their late 20s, most of whom were wearing “distinctive” tweed outfits. They went up Victoria Street after the attack, where they were lost to sight.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.