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Gloucestershire Business News

Man on trial for setting fire to garage

A Forest of Dean man has gone on trial for allegedly setting fire to Victoria Garage in Newnham-on-Severn in October 2018.

Prosecutor Ian Fenny told a Gloucester Crown Court jury on Monday that Pete Aston, 52, had set fire to the garage, belonging to Alex Davis, between October 17-20, 2018.

He said: "Aston is said to have been intoxicated when he set fire to the garage. He was living rough and sleeping in his van at the time of the fire incident. He denies setting fire to the garage.

"However a number of witnesses describe seeing 'Mad Pete' - as he is known locally - at the scene and there is CCTV footage of the incident.

"The witnesses, independently of each other, describe the man standing by the fire by his body language and his posture. He disappears as soon as the fire brigade arrive on the scene."

Caighli Taylor defending said: "Aston admits he was there and saw the building go up in flames himself.

"His defence is that the witnesses have put two and two together and come up with five."

The court was told that Aston, of Angel Vale, Coleford, carried out odd jobs in and around the village and socialised in the pubs in the area.

The court also heard that the garage was adjacent to the semi-derelict Victoria Hotel and the fire was witnessed by a resident of The Green.

Mrs Erdmute Roberts, who had lived in the village for 10 years, said in evidence: "I went outside and saw this massive fire. I saw a man watching the flames and recognised Pete, who sometimes stroked my dogs when I was out exercising them.

"I was standing 10 yards away from him when I saw him put some old car tyres on the fire. I went straight back into my house and called the emergency services, but I was told that others had beaten me to it and that the fire service and police were on their way.

"I am not mistaken as to his identity as the light from the flames was so bright I could see that it was Aston, who was wearing a hoodie and a baseball cap.

"I was aware he had a history of being involved with fire. I recall him setting fire to the same building about five years earlier and more recently he had lit a fire which I could see from an upstairs window in which he was dancing around the flames with his music blaring.

"I picked Aston out in an identification parade and I didn't have a visual prompt from viewing the CCTV. I recognised his mannerisms and his stance when I saw him watching the fire."

The trial continues this week.

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