A senior police officer set fire to his car in Oxfordshire, blaming his lover's husband, a court has heard.

Ch Supt Jim Trotman of Thames Valley Police told colleagues in October 2009 that solicitor Ian Gray had learned of his affair with Mr Gray's wife, Karin.

Swindon Crown Court heard that hours later Mr Trotman's Citroen was torched.

Mr Trotman, 45, of West Quay, Abingdon, denies arson, attempting to pervert the course of justice and two counts of fraud by false representation.

The court heard that earlier on 20 October 2009 Mr Trotman had confided in a colleague that he had been having an affair with Mrs Gray.

He said he was concerned about several e-mails he had received, purporting to be from Mr Gray, who he believed had hired a private investigator.

His colleague advised him to stay away from the Grays' home but that evening Mr Trotman parked his blue Citroen Picasso close to Mrs Gray's house in Bedwells Heath, Boars Hill, near Oxford.

At 2231 GMT the fire service was called to a car fire.

Insurance money

The court heard that Mr Trotman appeared at about 2330 GMT while police and fire crews were still at the scene.

He told firefighters that the car may have been set alight either by his estranged wife or by Mr Gray.

Mr Gray was exonerated after it emerged the e-mails sent to Mr Trotman had not been sent by him, but by friends of Mrs Gray.

Jurors heard that suspicion fell on Mr Trotman when discrepancies in his account failed to match his mobile phone records.

The court was also told Mr Trotman used the £14,820 insurance money from the blaze to buy an Audi A4 convertible.

The case continues.

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