Three men pounced on a homeless man in an unprovoked attack after they left a busy pub in Edinburgh.

Derek Connelly, 30, David Hill, 31, and Michael Pritchard, 20, admitted repeatedly punching Bravo Bromfield, who had been sitting on a street in the city's Cowgate area in July last year.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard the trio had been on a night out at The Three Sisters pub and spotted Mr Bromfield as they left.

Fiscal depute Ruth Ross-Davies said: "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.

"This incident was captured on CCTV and as a consequence Connelly, Hill and Pritchard were in due course traced by police officers and detained in relation to the matter."

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 cooperated with police but did not admit the attack initially. All three men have since plead guilty.

She also said that Hill would be unable to carry out community service because he was suffering from cancer.

Sheriff James Scott deferred sentence until next month for background reports.