Robbie the Pict, who faces 11 charges of failing to pay for crossing the Skye Bridge, failed yesterday in his latest challenge to the bridge tolls, writes Bruce McKain.

Robbie, 50, argued that the toll period had not been validly started according to the procedure laid down by statute, and that the toll order had not set out a maximum payment, also as required by law.

His arguments were rejected by the sheriff at Dingwall and he took his case to the Justiciary Appeal Court where he appeared on his own behalf.

During a two-and-a-half hour hearing, Robbie told Lord Sutherland, sitting with Lords Caplan and Wylie, that this was a very grave issue, affecting 475 people who had been subjected to charges involving 2800 criminal offences and he went on to describe the tolls as a ''muggers' charter''.

The Crown argued that all three notices required for a valid toll order had been published in the prescribed manner and that a maximum toll order had been specified.

In a written decision issued yesterday Lord Sutherland said the court's view was that the toll period had been properly started on October 16 1995 in accordance with the legal requirements and that a toll order prescribing maximum tolls had been issued by providing a formula by which the maximum payment could be worked out.

The court sent the case back to be dealt with by the sheriff at Dingwall.