Sean Clerkin was accused of causing a breach of the peace as the Queen’s Baton Relay passed through his hometown last July.

The 54-year-old was arrested as he tried to protest against ATOS — the private firm who assess whether people on benefits in Britain are fit to work — being named as a sponsor for the games.

Clerkin and a friend — who was dressed in a Gorilla costume and a lab coat — tried to show a large white banner saying “ATOS KILLS” and “NO TO ATOS AS A GAMES SPONSOR” to BBC television cameras.

But Clerkin — who has famously clashed with former Scottish Labour leaders Iain Gray and Jim Murphy — was cleared of wrongdoing following a trial at Paisley Sheriff Court.

Clerkin beamed with joy after his acquittal — then launched into a scathing attack on Police Scotland, claiming he’d been assaulted by one of the officers and had been victimised by a “police state”.

Prosecutors claimed Clerkin entered the roadway as the baton was being carried down Darnley Road in Barrhead on July 16, 2014.

Clerkin denied attempting to disrupt the progression of the relay and committing a breach of the peace, claiming he had been trying to move into a position where his banner — which was about 8ft long — would be picked up by television cameras covering the event.

During the trial a video of the incident as broadcast on the BBC was shown to the court by Clerkin’s lawyer, John Flanagan.

On the video the baton bearer could be seen running along with the baton, followed by 14 police officers in t-shirts and shorts, two officers in hi-vis police uniforms, four cars and a coach.

A stramash involving several police officers and Clerkin could then be seen on the footage.

Constable Christopher Kenny, 43, told the court he saw Clerkin on the day in question with “something white in a bag.” The police officer, who has been in the force for 14 years, said Clerkin and “the Gorilla” had not been holding a banner.

Constable Neil Cousins, who has been an officer for six years, was seen on the video footage standing inches away from Kenny when Clerkin was detained.

He told the court that he saw Clerkin holding one end of the 8ft banner, and said the other end was being held by the unnamed man in the Gorilla costume.

Cousins said: “They were quite serious — they didn’t look like they were there to enjoy the festivities like everyone else.

“I explained to them that they were entitled to protest but not entitled to disrupt the baton relay or enter the roadway as the baton relay was passing.

“Sean Clerkin was standing on the footpath, he started to walk towards me.

“He stepped foot on the roadway.

“He was up against me, my hands were on him.

“I pushed him back.

“He stumbled backwards onto the pavement and I assisted him into a seating position on the ground.

“When I put my hands on him he began shouting - phrases such as ‘ATOS kills’ and ‘No to ATOS’.” Cousins also told the court that around three days before Clerkin was arrested, senior officers had warned all officers providing security for the relay that he was planning to stage a protest.

Clerkin’s solicitor, Mr Flanagan, made a no case to answer submission, saying the police officers were “at odds” with each other over their versions of events.

As he found Clerkin not guilty, Sheriff Derek Hamilton said: “You may have been there to protest, you’re entitled to do that, but I don’t think the Crown have shown you attempted to disrupt the progression of the baton relay so you’re acquitted of this charge.” After his arrest, Clerkin spent 27 hours in police custody before appearing at Paisley Sheriff Court where he was granted bail, with a special condition banning him from every Commonwealth Games venue.

Speaking after he was cleared, Mr Clerkin said: “I am elated and relieved.

“Police Scotland are trying to turn this into a police state and I was arrested to take me out and make sure I couldn’t protest during the Commonwealth Games.

“I was deliberately targeted by Police Scotland to take me out of the Commonwealth Games altogether.

“Detective Sergeant Dougie Henderson came to my house unannounced the week before this incident and told me that if I protested the likelihood was that I would be arrested.

“I was pushed back and assaulted by a police officer.

“I was only peacefully protesting.

“All I did was step to the side to show the banner to the camera.

“This court ruling is a victory for democracy, the justice system and for the right to protest.

“The suffragettes, trade unionists and protestors won us the right to vote and our human rights privileges that exist today through protesting.

“The right to protest is fundamental.

“ATOS kills - people are actually dying as a result of the work capability system.” Clerkin’s lawye also hailed the verdict, describing it as a “victory for the Scottish justice system and proof that our courts will protect the innocent” when they are wrongfully arrested.