A MAN allegedly set fire to a pub just minutes after he had threatened to damage a hairdressers salon if the owner did not sign up to a protection racket, a court heard.

Frederick Hollely, 25, denies starting a fire at The Oval pub in Sutton-in-Ashfield in January.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that, less than an hour before the blaze, Hollely told the owner of a nearby hairdressing shop he would damage his premises if he did not receive £50 per week.

He also made a reference to a fire in the street, asking, 'Whose is that car outside on fire?' There was no such car.

Mr Hollely, who lives in Northwood Avenue in the town, pleaded guilty to an offence of blackmail at a hearing on May 9.

He appeared at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday on trial for the arson attack on January 3.

Part of the pub was boarded up at the time, as it had been temporarily closed on New Year's Eve.

Two tenants were still living in a flat above.

When one of them arrived to see flames coming out of the roof, Hollely allegedly said: "Ha ha, you've got to buy new clothes and go shopping tomorrow."

Caroline Bradley, for the prosecution, said: "She [the tenant] immediately saw him standing on the corner watching the firefighters putting out the fire."

The court heard Hollely had previously been banned from the premises, which have been closed since the arson attack, and that he was convicted of causing criminal damage at the pub four months earlier.

On January 3, firefighters were called to the pub, in The Oval, at around 3pm.

The court heard that Hollely's fingerprints and palm prints were found on a window at the flat above the pub.

The prosecution allege he used the window to get inside, before setting the building alight.

Hollely's defence barrister did not dispute that Hollely's prints were on the window, which was also broken.

But he argued that the prints could have been left by him at an earlier date.

A man wearing the clothes like Hollely's was also seen on the flat roof of the pub. Hollely refused to respond when questioned by police, and also used his right not to give evidence at the trial.

Martin Elwick, defending, argued that there was no forensic evidence to prove Hollely had been inside the premises that day.

The jury were due to consider their verdict this morning.

caroline.lowbridge@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk