A bitter Skye boat war was raised up in court yesterday after claims of violent behaviour.
But day-trip boat skipper, David Brown, 55, walked free after being found not guilty.
During his trial at Portree Sheriff Court the fiscal dropped the assault charge against Brown, the owner of Bella Jane Boat Trips.
Outside the court Brown said: “Obviously I am pleased with the outcome but it is highly regrettable the case even reached the court in the first place.”
Brown was accused of assaulting 60-year-old retired BT engineer Roderick Downes, a helper with rival boat firm Misty Isle Boat Trips by pushing him over onto the concrete pier a year ago, injuring his hand.
Mr Downes said: “There is no doubt in my mind I was assaulted by Brown. The poor quality of the CCTV footage was a weakness in the prosecution case.”
After hearing Mr Downes evidence Sheriff Richard Davidson told fiscal Stewart Maciver he acted “wisely” in abandoning the case.
Mr Downes earlier told defence lawyer Duncan Burd he was aware of the antagonism between the two boat operators.
He remonstrated on the pier with Brown over one of the Bella Jane boats not keeping to its time slot for berthing at the pier which was unfair to competitor Misty Isle.
He said there was “a heated argument'” between the pair then Brown pushed him to the ground.
Mr Downes told Mr Burd: “I lost the rag and swore at him. I can’t remember if he swore at me.”
The CCTV footage failed to reveal any assault occurring on the pier.
Sheriff Davidson noted, however, that what the camera did show was Mr Downes twice blocking the path of Brown as he walked down the pier, by standing in front of him.
Sheriff Davidson said: “The CCTV disc is not as clear as we would like but we can see that.
“The pier is a public one. There is no restriction on who can walk up or down it. So if Mr Brown wanted to walk to the end of the pier to look at the sea urchins or whatever he would be entitled to do so.”
After the sheriff’s remark the fiscal announced he was dropping the charge.
After claims by Brown and Misty Isle owner Seumas MacKinnon, 64, about behaviour at the council owned pier at Elgol, in south west Skye, Highland Council in 2008 installed a CCTV camera to monitor incidents.