American R+B star Mario Winans was dealt a harsh lesson in the pitfalls of success when a group of men attacked him and stole his diamond necklace.

The singer - whose single I DON'T WANNA KNOW shot to the top of the British charts last week (ends04JUN04) - was assaulted during a performance at the EROS nightclub in Enfield, north London on Saturday (05JUN04).

Winans desperately tried to fight off the violence before his bodyguards rushed in to break up the ruckus and called the police, reports British newspaper the DAILY MIRROR.

But the newcomer was left "too traumatised" by the scrap to take to the stage in Nottingham, England later that evening, leaving 1,800 fans disappointed.

09/06/2004 13:30