Reaction to the trial

Figures in the Sikh community have praised the verdict, arguing that the case against Bagicha Singh should have never been brought.

Cllr Balvinder Saund (Independent, Seven Kings) ­attended some of the trial as a representative of the Sikh Council UK.

She said: “I’m really pleased with the verdict. If they had found him guilty it would have been a travesty of justice.

“He was just a man of 60 minding his own business, talking on the phone as he walked by himself, so the idea of him attacking strapping big lads was just unbelievable. It was almost as if the kirpan was on trial.”

Magistrate Harmander Singh, 54, an adviser with think-tank Sikhs in England, said: “We are very pleased with the outcome, justice has prevailed.

“We think Bagicha Singh was almost the victim in this and we are very disappointed with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) taking the case to court; we think they lost the plot with this. It was a complete and utter waste of public money and time and I hope lessons are learnt.”

The CPS has not provided a comment to the Recorder.