A former solicitor and community council chairman has been cleared of sabotaging a mass cycling event after charges against him were dropped without explanation by the Crown.

Alexander Grosset was arrested and appeared from custody last May in connection with the scattering of thousands of tacks on the road during the Etape Caledonia event.

Several hundred cyclists had their tyres punctured during the event as they rode over the tacks, which were spread over about five miles of road.

Mr Grosset – one of a number of vocal critics of the event – was arrested and had his home in Highland Perthshire searched while he was in custody.

The church elder was alleged to have shown complete disregard for the safety of participants in the Etape Caledonia event, as well as spectators.

Mr Grosset appeared in private on a petition alleging that he scattered tacks on a section of the road and damaged a number of bicycles and emergency vehicles as a result.

The 62-year-old made no plea or declaration during the hearing and the case was continued for further examination by Sheriff Michael Fletcher while Mr Grosset was granted bail.

However, a Crown Office spokesman said: “We can confirm that the procurator

fiscal in Perth received a report concerning a 62-year-old man in relation to an incident on May 16, 2009. After full and careful consideration of all the facts and circumstances by Crown counsel, it was decided there should be no further proceedings.”

Mr Grosset, who is retired from the Fife-based personal injury legal firm that bears his family name, had faced a single charge alleging that between May 16 and 17 he acted in a way that showed complete disregard for the safety of competitors and pedestrians.

He was alleged to have culpably and recklessly deposited a quantity of tacks on to the surface of the unclassified road between Kinloch Rannoch and Tomphubil, and the B846 between Tomphubil and Aberfeldy. Mr Grosset, of Tighnacoille, Bridge of Gaur, Pitlochry, is chairman of the Rannoch and Tummel Community Council.

He is also a member of Pitlochry Rotary Club and police questioned other Rotarians in the area as part of the investigation.

The Etape Caledonia race is the largest closed-road cycling event in the UK, covering an 81-mile course, and it attracted 3,500 cyclists.

The road had to be closed for 90 minutes while thousands of tacks were cleared up.

Tayside Police launched an investigation and described the sabotage as a “reckless and irresponsible” act that could have had tragic consequences. Mr Grosset was the only person to face charges in the wake of the incident.

Organisers of the event – which raised a six-figure sum for a cancer charity – are expecting the 2010 renewal of the event to attract an even greater number of cyclists, despite the incident.

The event has attracted controversy, with a number of local groups protesting about enforced closures of roads in the area.

Local Councillor Ken Lyall said at the time he was “absolutely furious” about the sabotage and blamed it on “a low and contemptible” hard core of protesters. He said: “I cannot believe that someone has been so stupid. For anti-Etape campaigners to lower themselves to do this is a very sad day for Highland Perthshire.”

North Tayside MSP John Swinney said: “This was a highly dangerous act that could have brought serious injury to people on the event. It brings many visitors to Highland Perthshire and such an act is totally contrary to the hospitable and welcoming traditions of this area.”

The Crown offered no explanation for why the charges had been dropped and police have no plans to charge anyone else in connection with the sabotage.

Mr Grosset, now 63, last night criticised the Crown for taking so long to drop the charges.

He said: “I’ve got to say the whole situation was horrifying. Spending two nights in Perth police station isn’t exactly great.

“I didn’t realise that the justice system could treat people like that.

“I never did it, and there was never a shred of evidence to suggest that I did, which makes me wonder why it took so long for it to eventually reach this point.

“The thing that needs to be considered is that, if I didn’t do it, someone else did, and they haven’t been caught.”