Cambridge student attack could be linked to Sturgeon relative goading homeless man with £20 note
One college has warned students against wearing gowns in public
A CAMBRIDGE student was attacked on his bike in suspected retribution for Nicola Sturgeon's relative goading a homeless man.
One college has even warned students against wearing gowns in public - in case they inflame further violence.
Ronald Coyne, 18, a distant relative of the Scottish First Minister, taunted the rough sleeper with a burning £20 note in a Snapchat video while wearing a white bow tie and tails.
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Yesterday students at St Catharine's College were told not to wear their gowns off campus.
Senior Tutor Dr Paul Hartle emailed students and suggested a tense environment from last week's note burning may have caused the assault.
His email suggested the fact the victim was clearly identifiable as a student may be linked and warned of a dangerous "climate" in the city.
He said: "The student was wearing his gown which may have occasioned the incident, given recent unhelpful local publicity about the stupidly arrogant behaviour of a particular student (from another college).
"Whilst I suspect this was a random act, it might be prudent for a while at least not to wear your gown about town." Cambridge University said: "We can confirm there was an incident on Sunday morning that has been reported to police.
"We cannot comment further while a police investigation is ongoing." More than 21,000 people have signed a petition calling for Coyne, a first-year law student at Pembroke College, to be kicked out of the university.
The man he taunted, jobless crane operator Ryan Davies, 31, who has been sleeping rough for three months, said: "It was absolutely disgusting. It was horrible. Just plain nasty."