Oswaldtwistle shop owner 'torched his own business' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Oswaldtwistle shop owner 'torched his own business'

12:11pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Darwen By Wendy Barlow, Court reporter

ALARMED neighbours risked their lives trying to break into a blazing shop because they feared people might be trapped inside, a jury was told.

But the proprietor of the West End Convenience Store, Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle had set fire to the building himself after earlier removing valuable stock, it was alleged.

Saddaqat Ali, 40, had been seen leaving the premises just before the fire was spotted.

Concerned residents put themselves ‘very much in harm’s way’ by trying to smash their way into the premises with a sledge hammer, but were beaten back by fierce smoke and heat, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Ali, of Perry Street, Darwen, denies arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, on August 11, 2010 and fraud between August and December 2010.

Tim Storrie, prosecuting, said the defendant, who leased the store in August 2009, started the fire “with thorough disregard for the lives of others he was likely to put in danger.”

A CCTV camera and equipment from the shop appeared to be missing after the incident and Ali then made a bogus insurance claim for the damage, saying he had been burgled.

A neighbour who used the store a lot was near the shop at about 10.30pm, when he was very surprised to see Ali leaving the premises, with another man in a van.

By the time the neighbour got to his front door he heard a loud popping noise coming from the shop.

Mr Storrie said within a minute, a man was kicking the door of the property, smoke was emerging and a crowd had gathered, intent on getting in the store, fearing people were inside.

They tried to put the door in with a sledge hammer but were beaten back.

"The prosecution says it's no coincidence that Mr Ali had left the premises just as the fire took hold," he added.

He said a police officer had been in the shop that day and had received from staff, including the defendant, a complaint that there had been trouble nearby involving youths.

She noted that and also took care to note the premises had CCTV, which was working, as she saw herself on it.

But, when the blaze was being investigated, the camera and equipment appeared to be missing.

The prosecutor said the officer also noted the shop was very short of stock - so much so, she and her colleague talked about it.

Mr Storrie continued: "Was it the case, as the prosecution suggest, that Mr Ali had removed items that were likely to be valuable in advance, knowing he was going to set the shop on fire later that night?"

Mr Storrie said the fire brigade put out the blaze, examined the damage and came to the conclusion the fire was started deliberately.

Ali subsequently made an insurance claim for compensation, saying he thought he had been burgled and the burglars had damaged the premises, although he knew full well he had started the blaze, it was alleged.

Mr Storrie said Ali was arrested and interviewed and said he was not there, he was elsewhere.

He claimed he had not driven the van he had been seen getting into.

The defendant also told police the CCTV cameras must have been stolen in the burglary. Ali said the business had been doing well and he had no need to start a fire.

The prosecutor told the jury the defendant claimed it was not him who was in the vicinity of the shop when the neighbour made his observation and that the man must be mistaken.

But, Mr Storrie added, the neighbour “picked him out quite correctly” on an identity parade at a later stage.

Proceeding