Sacha Baron Cohen aka Borat arriving at the Ed Sullivan Theatre to appear on The Late Show with David Letterman. New York City, USA - 30.10.06

The British star was on his way to a dinner date with actor friend HUGH LAURIE, after they had both appeared on US comedy show SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.

Cohen approached the man and asked, "I like your clothings. Are nice. Please may I buying? I want have sex with it."

The man responded by punching Cohen in the face repeatedly.

Laurie was forced to step in and push the man away, so Cohen could escape.

A source tells British newspaper The Sun, "Sacha is very lucky he didn't get a much worse beating."

Source: WENN