A Loch Lomond angler has been fined after he ‘glowed’ through binoculars at the club chairman, whom he blames for his 10-year ban.

  • James Raeburn had charged Peter Lyons with sailing recklessly to put him in danger.
  • Raeburn is the chair of Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association group
  • Lyons had been banned for 10 years by Raeburn and his Committee because of a blog
  • Lyons’s post allegedly included derogatory remarks regarding members of the LLAIA
  • Lyons wasn’t found guilty for reckless navigation nor culpable or reckless conduct
  • He was fined £320 for fishing on his boat without a licence since last June 










This is a paradise for anglers, and a beautiful place to get away from the stresses of life and connect with nature.

The peaceful waters of Loch Lomond were rocked by an ugly spat between the Chairman of Britain’s most prestigious fishing societies and the disgruntled suspended member.

James Raeburn, chairman of the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association, accused Peter Lyons of ‘glowering’ at him in an act of intimidation as he was shadowed in his boat – with the case ending up in court.

Lyons had already been suspended from the association for ten years after refusing to take down a blog post – titled Loch Lomond Bitter and Twisted – which contained ‘derogatory remarks’ about the committee. 

Peter Lyons (pictured) was banned from fishing at the Scottish beauty spot where he had kept his boat for years, Stirling Sheriff Court heard

Peter Lyons (pictured) was banned from fishing at the Scottish beauty spot where he had kept his boat for years, Stirling Sheriff Court heard

It meant he was banned from fishing at the Scottish beauty spot where he had kept his boat for years – and he blamed Mr Raeburn for his exclusion, a court was told.

Lyons, 67-year-old retired policeman claimed Lyons had “lain in wait” for him during the return leg to a July salmon fishing trip.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard that Lyons approached him quickly and that he was afraid he would not have enough space to get away from the bank in order to avoid any underwater obstacles.

Bizarrely though, Mr Raeburn stated that Lyons looked at him through his binoculars despite them being close, court heard.

He stated that he noticed a boat at the centre of the Loch as he was moving south. [it]It measures only 400 yards in width

James Raeburn (right) said Lyons had approached him at speed in his boat and drew up so close he feared he wouldn't have enough room to pull away from the bank to avoid obstacles

James Raeburn, right) stated that Lyons came at him speedily in his boat. He was so close that he worried he wouldn’t be able to move away from the bank and avoid any obstacles.

It was Peter Lyons’ boat that I didn’t notice until then. I could see by the wake it was travelling quite fast in my direction – white water at the sides.’

He said, “It was my impression he was trying intimidate me.” I tried to get him to stop, but he didn’t respond.

“Everytime I increased my speed, he would speed up. If I slow down, he will slow down.” 

Raeburn stated that the chase between ‘cats and mice’ lasted 45 minutes. He added: “Even though he wasn’t far away, he looked at me through his pair of binoculars. Which I found very strange. 

Lyons (64), a retired architect, conducted his defense and suggested that the account about the sail-by was “total fantasy” and that Mr Raeburn actually executed a “sharp” maneuver that placed his propeller in danger of becoming entangled in fishing lines.

Lyons had already been suspended from the association for ten years after refusing to take down a blog post – titled Loch Lomond Bitter and Twisted

Lyons had already been suspended from the association for ten years after refusing to take down a blog post – titled Loch Lomond Bitter and Twisted

He said, “It was just an mild glower to let your know that even though the ten year ban I still existed… It was just a mild glower to let you know that despite the ten-year ban, I still existed…

After a day-long summary trial, Sheriff Keith O’Mahony found Lyons not guilty of reckless navigation and culpable and reckless conduct, but fined him £320 for fishing without a permit last June.

The sheriff referred to Lyons’s examination of witnesses about the justice of his suspension and said that he did not believe that Lyons was responsible for issuing permits to Loch Lomond.

Advertisement