Councillor cleared of 'crazy' charge of cycle race sabotage

Alexander Grosset, the church elder accused of showing complete disregard for the safety of the thousands of competitors, blamed his arrest on a throwaway remark he made over lunch.

He told The Scotsman: "There was no evidence against me. I couldn't really understand why I was ever arrested."

Mr Grosset, 63, who is the chairman of Rannoch and Tummel Community Council, was taken into custody in May last year and spent two nights in a police cell after cyclists were sent tumbling and hundreds of tyres were punctured when carpet tacks were scattered across almost five miles of the 81-mile cycle race route in Highland Perthshire.

The Etape Caledonia event, involving 3,500 cyclists, was held up for about 90 minutes as the road was cleared.

Nine months after Mr Grosset's arrest, the Crown Office has decided that there should be no further proceedings against him.

Mr Grosset had been one of the most outspoken critics of the decision to close the only road around Loch Rannoch because of the race. Mr Grosset, of the Bridge of Gaur, Rannoch, claimed he was arrested because of a remark he made to some other locals in the week running up to the event.

He said: "One of the company asked 'What do you do – we have protested to the council and they are not paying any attention.'

"And I said – in the same way that you might say Gordon Brown needs shot – 'I suppose you could always stick tacks on the road'. It was banter over lunch with friends. But then I was arrested.

"It was absolutely crazy."

A Crown Office spokesman said:

"After full and careful consideration of all the facts and circumstances, it was decided there should be no further proceedings."