A man accused of murdering Shropshire pawnbroker George Black by dousing him in petrol and kerosene and setting him on fire told a court he had not plotted to kill him.

Robert Field claimed the only reason he had been at Mr Black’s home on the night of his death was to deny having an affair with Mr Black’s long-term partner Sylvia Marie Smith, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Mr Black, 41, was set alight during an arson attack at his home in The Square, Bucknell, near Craven Arms, on December 8, 2008. He died two days later at a Liverpool hospital from his injuries.

The court heard previously that Mr Black’s partner Sylvia Marie Smith, who also suffered burns during the incident, was Field’s lover and believed she was carrying his child.

Robert Field, 22, of Etnam Street, Leominster, and co-defendant Gareth Powell of the Grove, Shobdon, Leominster, both deny murder.

Sylvia Marie Smith, 22, of Cherrybrook Close, Hope-under-Dinmore, Leominster, denies conspiracy to murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Sylvia Marie Smith’s mother Sylvia Jane Smith, 42, and her stepfather Steven Smith, 45, also of Cherrybrook Close, Hope-under-Dinmore, both deny attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Yesterday Field denied he had gone to the house with a canister of flammable liquid and had thrown it at Mr Black.

Mr Alan Conrad QC, defending Sylvia Marie Smith, said Field had followed Mr Black into the dining room and Mr Black had stood next to Sylvia Marie Smith who was sitting at a table.

“You launched that cannister towards them and somehow it ignited,” said Mr Conrad.

But Field denied he had done that and said he had not plotted with Sylvia Marie Smith to murder Mr Black.

Field said that several text messages between him and Sylvia Marie Smith in the run-up to the incident which referred to Mr Black being “gone” meant that Mr Black had been planning to move to Portugal.

Mr Conrad claimed Field had been fearful that Mr Black might come and harm him at his workshop.

Field said: “It was in the back of my mind.

“Hanging about with George at the time, it was a common occurrence for him to make threats.”

The trial continues.

By Sophie Bignall