Kevin Maguire was accused of stealing it and taking it with him but he said that he found it in a skip while renovating a pub between May and July 2021 and kept it for his two young daughters.

He claims he was unaware of the background of the statue or its £2,500 ($3,000/€2,800) value, saying that if he was he would have "handed it in and got the money."

"I was going to colour it in green and white hoops in the back garden - that's how much it meant to me," said Celtic Football Club fan Maguire, as reported by Clydebank Post.

Sheriff Brian Cameron found him not guilty, saying "it won't be a mistake you will make again."

"I have heard matters, and your evidence, and I am satisfied that dishonest intent has not been proved," Cameron added, as reported by Clydebank Post.

Maguire told the court that an employee made him aware of the statue in the skip which was covered in "paint and rubbish".

"I sent my wife a text saying I had this and that I was taking it home.

"To me, it was just a cartoon character."

When police officers came to his door looking for the statue he said he thought it was a joke.

He then refused a £500 ($600/€565) fixed penalty offer from the police.

Clyde is an anthropomorphic thistle, the floral emblem of Scotland, and is named after the River Clyde which flows through Glasgow.