Man overjoyed at escaping prison jailed for kissing stranger in celebration Miss Bushell, 29, was giving evidence before a trial at Stirling Sheriff Court where a non-resident sheriff was specially brought in to hear evidence from witnesses including the Alloa Sheriff Court depute sheriff clerk. She said: "Hugh was so glad to get a good reply from the judge that after he left the dock he came right up to me, grabbed me by the ears, and gave me a kiss on both cheeks. It was a bit of a shock, but he did nothing to hurt me or harm me. Miss Bushell said she had never met Muir before, but he and his friend had been chatting to her and her friend earlier in the day as they waited for their cases to come up. As he kissed her he whispered "Good luck, hen," before leaving and she was later found not guilty. She did not reveal what she had been accused of. Miss Bushell told depute fiscal Elaine Johnston, prosecuting, that she suspected Muir and his friend had been in a nearby pub over the lunchtime adjournment - the incident happened in the afternoon. She said: "When they were in the dock they were happy. He never meant any harm. I wouldn't have reported it to the police. Sheriff clerk depute Melanie McGarrill said she had telephoned the court police officers because of Miss Bushell's reaction to the kiss. She said: "She looked a bit shocked and she mouthed something like 'I don't even know him'." PC Ewan Steele, 21, who conveyed Muir to Stirling in a police van, said he had replied after caution: "I'm gutted about this -- I only gave a lassie a kiss." Muir, of Castle Street, Clackmannan, pleaded not guilty to a charge that he did assault Miss Bushell by "seizing her by the head, pulling her towards you, and kissing her on the cheek." The incident happened on September 4th last year [2012]. Visiting Sheriff William Wood upheld a defence submission of no case to answer. He told Mr Muir: "There is evidence of Miss Bushell being shocked by your conduct, but that's not sufficient under the law of Scotland. It may have been inappropriate, it was arguably a contempt of court, it was possibly a breach of the peace - but it was not an assault. Miss Bushell, having given her evidence, was again sitting with her friend on the public benches to hear Muir being told he could go. He left the dock, and the courtroom, without kissing her again. Outside court, he said: "I'm delighted, but I've nothing more to say. I'm off. A court lawyer, who asked not to be named, said the case would have cost the public purse, "several thousand pounds." He said: "Trials don't come cheap - and in this case they had to bring a sheriff in specially because all the resident sheriffs would know the depute sheriff clerk who was giving evidence. Then there's the preparation time, and taking an officer off the streets to give evidence - all for ae fond kiss!