UK singer allegedly assaulted by NZer regains consciousness

Promising pop star Billy Leeson, who ended up in a coma after allegedly being attacked in a London street by a New Zealand peace activist, is now out of intensive care.

New Zealander Christiaan Briggs, 30, of Napier, was charged with grievous bodily harm after the attack and released on £10,000 ($30,000) bail.

Mr Leeson, 19, of Brecknock Road, Holloway, a singer with up-and-coming band Les Incompetents, had to have part of his skull removed in an operation at The Royal Free Hospital, and was put in a medically-induced coma.

He was attacked in Holloway on the way home from performing a gig on July 22.

Mr Leeson's girlfriend, Elli Bradshaw, 19, of Finsbury Park, told the Hornsey and Crouch End Journal newspaper she was "relieved" when he finally came round last Friday.

Briggs, who is due to enter a plea on September 25, allegedly punched Mr Leeson after making "advances" to Ms Bradshaw, according to police.

Scotland Yard spokesman James Nadin said an argument broke out between the pair after Briggs allegedly approached Mr Leeson's girlfriend, and Briggs hit Mr Leeson after getting off a bus.

Briggs, a technician with a firm of chartered surveyors in North London, handed himself into police after hearing of Leeson's serious injuries and was arrested.

His mother Karyn, is reported to have gone to London to support her son, who was ordered to surrender his passport and observe a nightly 10pm to 7am curfew at his sister's house in Kingston, Southwest London.

- NZPA