Cambridge rowers are once again embroiled in a row with a local houseboat owner who claims that they are harming wildlife on the river.

Robin Middleton, the houseboat owner, was arrested for verbally assaulting a group of rowers. The incident occurred outside the plough pub in Fen Ditton whilst Middleton was out sailing with his son.

He went on to jump into the river and seize the rower’s vessel whilst challenging them to a “cage fight”. Middleton, also known as “Battleship Bob” due to the skull and crossbones emblazoned on his vessel’s sail, claimed that the incident started as the rowers attempted to overtake him whilst he had right of way on the water.

Additionally, he maintained that one of the rowers, Nick Siragher, had provoked him by verbally abusing his son. However Siragher disputes this, claiming the incident occurred at a point on the river where they should have been allowed to overtake and described the argument as “intimidating” saying it left him feeling “incredibly threatened”.

This is not the first time that Mr Middleton has come into conflict with student rowers. As reported in the past, Middleton was the staunchest defender of the notoriously aggressive swan known as ‘Mr Asbo’ and ‘Stalin’.

Students unsuccessfully petitioned to have the swan removed from the river in April last year after several incidents in which it attacked rowers. The swan’s reprieve was due in part to protests by Mr Middleton who claimed rowers were disturbing the local wildlife and endangering cygnets.

Indeed the row over Mr Asbo’s eviction, which culminated in the training period for bumps last year, resulted in Middleton using his barge to obstruct rowers and protect cygnets and, he claims, with his being pushed into the river by University rowers.

Magistrates have convicted Middleton of using threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour with intent to cause harassment and distress and he is due to be sentenced on November 11th.