The Crown has dropped charges against a man hailed a hero for tampering with the controversial bright lights in the Outer Battery.

The lights have been off since January 26 but while they were on, they lit up longstanding animosity between their owner and his neigbours.

And when the city said its hands were tied, most felt it was a matter of time before someone used their own. That time was around 1 a.m. on January 20 when James Drover tried to angle the light and its glare away from other homes.

He was arrested nearby and later said on Facebook, the officer shook his hand and called him Batman.

Crown prosecutor Mike Murray didn’t go that far yesterday, but did drop the charges of mischief by damaging property and trespassing at night.

While there was video of a man shaking the light, Murray said in the end it stayed on and there was no actual damage.

He added while vigilantism cannot be condoned, there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction.

Drover wasn’t in court for yesterday’s turn of events, but his lawyer, Steve Marshall, did appear on his behalf via teleconference, and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

Colin Way, the owner of the bright lights, still faces charges of extortion and mischief over when and where he shines them.

He’s due back in court next month.