Two American cruise ship passengers have been fined after attacking two men on a motorbike who tried to rob them.

Aaron Alexandre, 23, and his sister, Kimberly Alexandre, 26, chased the motorcyclist and his passenger after two chains were snatched from Mr Alexandre’s neck as they walked around Dockyard in the early hours of Friday morning.

The siblings, who had arrived in Bermuda on board the Norwegian Breakaway, then assaulted Antoine Seaman, 19, and Micah Hughes, 19, as they tried to retrieve the jewellery.

Yesterday in court, the defendants admitted taking part in a fight as well as assaulting Mr Seaman and Mr Hughes, causing them bodily harm.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo imposed an absolute discharge on the first charge and a “nominal” fine of $300 each for the assaults on the two men.

He said: “I have heard the facts and taken into account your guilty pleas and the fact you have no previous convictions.

“The fact you were visiting here and were victims of an unlawful attack — a robbery — you had a right to defend your property and even hold up your assailants. “But the law does not allow you to go beyond that. No doubt your holiday has been ruined by this, but you should not have to deal with this kind of conduct.

“Because you went beyond what is required to defend yourself, a conditional discharge is not appropriate for the assaults.”

The defendants, who live in Bridgeport, Connecticut, apologised for their actions.

Their lawyer, Rick Woolridge, questioned why there were no police officers on duty in Dockyard at the time of the incident.

He said: “This is the most unfortunate of circumstances; they are visitors to our shores and were accosted and robbed by local men.

“But for the robbery this would have been a successful and happy vacation. It is my submission they had a right to protect their property and try to apprehend the people that took their property.

“These people come from a place where if you get robbed, then the consequences would have been even more serious.

“Why should these folks have to tackle our social ills?”

The court heard that Mr Seaman and Mr Hughes had been treated in hospital for their injuries, which included bruises and fractures, but have both since been released from hospital.

• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding court cases. As we are legally liable for any slanderous or defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers.