TWO dog walking pensioners came to blows when they clashed on a Longniddry beach following an argument about their animals, a court heard.

John Aitchison was walking his daughter’s dog along the sands at Longniddry Bents when he came across Alan Syme coming the other way with his dog.

Mr Aitchison's dog picked up a ball belonging to Mr Syme’s pet, leading to an argument between the duo.

The two men were seen to struggle with each other, with 75-year-old Mr Aitchison claiming he had been left bloodied after being struck by a ball thrower belonging to Mr Syme.

The incident was witnessed by off-duty police officer Leo Baker, who was at the beach with his family about 50 yards away.

After the pair of warring pensioners had gone their separate ways, PC Baker noted Mr Aitchison's car registration number and left his details with Mr Syme.

Mr Aitchison, from Edinburgh, stood trial at the city’s sheriff court last Thursday, where he was found not guilty of assaulting Mr Syme on April 24 last year.

Before commencing with the trial, fiscal depute Gavin White told the court that Mr Syme had become unwell in the months following the incident and would not be able to give evidence.

The court was told that PC Baker believed he saw Mr Aitchison grab Mr Syme around the neck with a dog lead before “swinging” blows were struck from both men.

The 39-year-old officer admitted that he was “not 100 per cent he used the lead to pull the man to the ground” and that “the situation calmed down very quickly”.

Following the altercation, that left Mr Syme in the water, both men walked away from the scene.

Mr Aitchison told the court that he had held up his dog lead between his hands to prevent blows from Mr Syme, who was carrying a plastic dog ball thrower.

Mr Aitchison said that his dog had picked up a ball belonging to Mr Syme, which he claimed led the man to threaten the dog by shouting: “I’ll stick this thing down its throat.”

Mr Aitchison then claimed that he he had been struck by the ball thrower, causing bleeding to his neck, and then called a “f***ing stupid old b******” by Mr Syme.

He said: “He struck me with the ball thrower – there was a quite a lot of blood on my neck.

"To prevent further blows I defended myself with my dog lead and he fell into the water.”

Mr Aitchison added he believed the pair had “parted amicably” and that “we went off on our separate ways”.

Sheriff John Cook decided to find Mr Aitchison not guilty of assault and told him he was free to leave the dock.

Sheriff Cook said: “The evidence in this case principally came from a police constable who was off-duty at the time. The initial coming together came to his attention through his peripheral vision and he was some way from the altercation.

“In those circumstances, I do not feel I can be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that you are guilty of this offence, so I acquit you of this charge.”