Brian Quail, the septuagenarian superhero who managed to confound Britain’s nuclear defences using only a pelican crossing, has been found not guilty of breach of the peace.

Last March The National told how Quail had stopped a convoy of four lorries believed to be carrying “one of two bombs each” by waiting for the green man to let him over a road in Balloch.

The 78 year old calmly walked out and lay on the road.

Police accused the veteran CND campaigner of “behaving in a manner likely to cause a reasonable person fear and alarm”.

However, yesterday in Dumbarton Sheriff court, Justice of the Peace, Andrew Nicholson said said that Quail’s actions had done no such thing.

Quail, who was conducting his own defence, described the danger of nuclear bombs and claimed Trident was a breach of international law.

“This is not a political matter,” the campaigner argued. “This is a court of law and I am here to uphold the law.

“There’s no dispute regarding the facts of this case. The problem we have is the refusal of the courts to take in the context of the actions taken by me.

“If the vehicle involved was in a bank robbery it would not be an offence and considered justifiable.”

He added: “I remember Hiroshima as a boy. As we speak in this court room, a young man sits in front of control panel deep in the ocean ready to fire.

“Please don’t defend Trident against me. Please defend me and humanity against Trident.”

Addressing the retired classics teacher, Nicholson said: “I have taken advice from my legal adviser as to what constitutes a breach of the peace.

“It must cause a reasonable person to be in a state of fear or alarm, not simply irritation.

“My decision is based on 100 per cent on the law of the Scotland and nothing else.

“I find you not guilty.”

Speaking outside court after the verdict, Quail said: “I did not commit a breach of the peace, and I’m relieved the JP saw that.

“I was pleased to get a chance to draw the court’s attention to the illegality of Trident, which the courts in Scotland have body-swerved.”

Writer Mark Millar tweeted: “My old Latin teacher wins again!”

However, this is only the first battle of 2017 for Quail.

Last September he did just about the same thing to a nuclear convoy passing through Raploch in Stirling.

Except that time he wasn’t alone. He and co-campaigner Alasdair Ibbotson walked out onto the road, hands held high. Then when police took Ibbotson away, Quail nipped round the other side of the lorry and squeezed underneath it.

Cops were left scratching their heads, and it took them 15 minutes to get the retired teacher out from underneath the nuclear weapon carrying lorry.

Quail will be up in Stirling Sheriff Court on March 13.