Allegations that a Rangers fan broke the law by posting a message on the internet menacing former Rangers chairman Sandy Easdale were dropped when it emerged that the web post concerned never even mentioned the bus tycoon.

Stewart McNeill (37) had been accused of breaching the Telecommunications Act by putting a message on the Rangers’ fans’ alternative website Sons of Struth that was “grossly offensive or of menacing character”.

He had been charged that, on 19 January 2015, he “attempted to incite persons reading the message” to harm Mr Easdale, owner of Greenock-based McGill’s Buses, his family, or his property.

At Stirling Sheriff Court on Tuesday (25 August) the case was treated as officially “not called” - meaning that the Crown had dropped it.

It emerged that the message complained of, posted at a time of controversy over Mr Easdale’s role on the Rangers FC board, had simply read: “There needs to be direct action taken against these individuals, at their homes and places of business”.

It came at a time when fans were calling for peaceful protests outside the HQ of McGill’s Buses, owned by Sandy and his brother James.

A source said: “It was extraordinary to have charged Mr McNeill, who was simply contributing to a public debate, was in no way offensive, certainly never named Sandy Easdale or anyone else, and never suggested he or his family or his property anyone else should be ‘harmed’.

“It sounds like another example of coppers patrolling the internet looking for people speaking out of turn, instead of policing the streets.” Mr McNeill, of Dunkeld Court, Balfron, Stirlingshire, was not at court, but a source said he felt “relieved and vindicated”.

A Crown Office spokesman said: “It is the duty of the Procurator Fiscal to keep cases under review, and after full and careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, including the available admissible evidence, it was decided that no further action should be taken at this time.” The Sons of Struth fans group is named after legendary Rangers manager Bill Struth, who led the club for 34 years between 1920 and 1954, during which time he oversaw 18 Scottish championships, five of which were in succession, between 1927 and 1931.