A businessman has been found not guilty of torching his own launderette in a £20,000 insurance fiddle.

A jury at Oxford Crown Court yesterday took less than an hour to reach their unanimous verdict.

Peter Scurr, 51, who had denied arson, put his hand on his heart and mouthed "Thank you" as the jury acquitted him.

Scurr, formerly of Harold White Close, Risinghurst, Oxford, then returned to jail where he is serving an 18-month prison sentence for receiving stolen property.

He was sentenced last July for handling thousands of pounds worth of stolen Unipart car parts.

The arson trial heard that a fire started by an unknown person at the All Season's Launderette in Westlands Drive, Northway, Oxford, caused a massive explosion which rocked the estate. Paul Reid, prosecuting, claimed Scurr had severe financial problems and organised the fire as an insurance scam.

But Scurr said he had nothing to do with the fire.

He said his nearby car repair business had also been attacked by arsonists the year before.

He told insurance loss adjusters: "I'm sure that fire and the one at the launderette may be linked."

The court heard that Scurr had been building up the launderette by putting in a coffee machine and a television, and regarded the business as a goldmine.

Story date: Friday 29 January

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