British Soldiers Admit New York Policeman Fight Four British soldiers have admitted they were involved in a fight with an off-duty policeman outside a bar in New York. The men were on a military rugby team trip when a row broke out outside the Mercury Bar in the Murray Hill area of Manhattan on August 30. Police said the NYPD officer was punched to the ground and had his mobile phone stolen during the fight. A court in Manhattan heard he suffered a broken nose, a swollen jaw and a number of cuts and bruises during the attack. Lance Corporal Ratu-losefo Yavala and Corporal Thomas Shute pleaded guilty to misdemeanour assault. L Cpl Yavala also admitted petit larceny, the theft of another person's property. Private Mosese Kuruala and Private Iliakini Raderua pleaded guilty to violations, which are not crimes under US law. All four men, who are from Fiji but serve in 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, based in Edinburgh, were sentenced to community service and fines. Yavala's lawyer Seema Iyer described him as "a total gentleman." Attorneys for the other soldiers were not available for comment. The Ministry of Defence has not commented on the sentencing of the soldiers.