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Etape Caledonia: alleged tack attacker now has gun license revoked

Solicitor charged with sabotaging charity event loses gun licence

The solicitor Alexander Grosset who was arrested but then subsequently cleared of involvement in the tack-spreading incident at the Etape Caledonia sportive last May has had his gun license revoked by the Sherrif's Court in Perth.

According to Tayside Chief Constable Justine Curran in a report lodged at the same court, she believed Grosset was "no longer a suitable person to hold a firearms certificate". Presumably, in light of the fact that the ride, to be held again on 16th May 2010, has had its own designated policeman on the ground since we last reported earlier this month.

In this morning's Scotland on Sunday the Chief Constable said that Grosset's gun licence had been taken away after Tayside Police had taken account of the potential for "danger to the public or to the peace". Curran justified the action by outlining the circumstances leading to Grosset's arrest in May last year, which was sparked by a Rotary Club lunch during which he was heard to suggest someone should throw tacks on the road. A search of his home failed to find a quantity of tacks that should have been there.

Yesterday, 62-year-old Grosset – who has consistently denied any wrongdoing and is fighting to get his gun licence restored – laughed off suggestions that he posed any danger to the public. He admitted making comments about tacks at the Rotary lunch, but said: "You say something ridiculous and people take it seriously. I did not do this thing and was not party to it."

Grosset's appeal to have his license restored is due to be heard in September.

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OldRidgeback | 14 years ago
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Plenty of people will be keeping a close eye on him. I can't imagine he'd be stupid enough to try the same stunt again. But all it takes is one disgruntled local to repeat the tack scattering.

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Old Cranky | 14 years ago
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Mr Grosset (of Tighnacoille) is going to need his gun to defend himself from the returning cyclists on the 16th May.

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OldRidgeback | 14 years ago
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'A search of his home failed to find tacks that should have been there' - well if they were spread all over the roads then of course they wouldn't be in his home - doh. It is not hard to dispose of empty boxes. I wonder if any policeman had the sense to check his credit card or cash withdrawals and purchases prior to the event? Even if he didn't buy or spread the tacks himself he may have been involved in incitement and that would certainly be sufficient reason to take away his firearms certificate, whether or not he was directly involved in the incident or indeed subsequently charged.

Gun license holders have to be able to prove they are worthy of having a weapon. Any suggestion that they are in any way suspect means the license will be revoked. The onus is on the gun owner to prove innocence in other words as in the UK with regard to firearms ownership, guilt has to be presumed for safety reasons.

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cat1commuter | 14 years ago
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I don't know that he was cleared of involvement. The charges against him were dropped for unstated reasons, which might have been insufficient evidence for prosecution.

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