Man left security guard with fractured skull after forcing way into The Who concert at Edinburgh Castle

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A music fan left a security guard with horror injuries - including a fractured skull - after he tried to barge his way into a sold out concert at Edinburgh Castle.

Scott Joyce, 42, burst through a line of stewards without a ticket in a bid to gain entry to see rock giants The Who at the iconic capital venue in July 2023.

Joyce was chased by security staff and ran head on into employee Lesley Porteous where she was knocked unconscious after smashing her head off the ground.

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Ms Porteous suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain following the savage assault and was rushed to the city’s Royal Infirmary for treatment.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the victim was forced to spend two weeks recovering in hospital and has now lost her sense of smell and taste due to the incident. Security staff detained Joyce and he was arrested and charged after police rushed to the scene of the assault.

Scott Joyce outside Edinburgh Sheriff CourtScott Joyce outside Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Scott Joyce outside Edinburgh Sheriff Court | Alexander Lawrie

Joyce, of Drumchapel, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Porteous to her severe injury and permanent impairment when he appeared in the dock at the capital court on Friday.

Fiscal depute Mark Keane told the court the English rock legends The Who were playing a show in McRitchie of 8,500 fans at Edinburgh Castle esplanade on July 8, 2023.

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Mr Keane security staff were preparing for the concert to finish and were removing barriers at the bottom of the esplanade to allow music fans to exit at around 8.20pm.

The fiscal said: “The accused ran towards the line of stewards at the esplanade and ran through them to gain entry. He was pursued by a number of security staff for around 50 metres and Lesley Porteous stood in the way of the accused who ran into her.

“He knocked her off her feet and she struck her head off the ground and was knocked unconscious from the impact. The accused was restrained until the police arrived.”

The court was told Ms Porteous was rushed by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where she was found to have suffered a fractured skull and had bleeding in the brain.

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Mr Keane said the the employee had eight stitches inserted to a head wound, spent two weeks in hospital and has “lost her sense of smell and taste, and suffers from anxiety” as a result of the attack.

Shocking CCTV footage of the incident was shown to the court showing Joyce bursting through the security cordon and barging Ms Porteous to the ground at the castle esplanade.

Sheriff Iain Nicol said: “Given the nature of this offence and an analogous previous conviction I will defer sentence for a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment to be prepared.“I do have to warn you that custody is a possibility in this case.”

The Who played two sold out concerts in front of 17,000 fans at the purpose built Edinburgh Castle outdoor venue on July 8 and 9, 2023.

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