A husband accused of murdering his estranged wife in a fire at an inn had made threats to "burn the pub down", a jury were told.

Jason Hall, 34, has admitted starting the blaze at the Chevin Inn, Guiseley, that killed licensee Sarah Thrippleton Hall, 37, on Good Friday.

Bradford Crown Court was told yesterday that Hall, who denies murder, had threatened to set the pub on fire while drinking with his friends in the Yorkshire Rose pub, also in Guiseley.

Businessman Jonathan Shepherd, who had employed Hall in the weeks leading up to the fire, said he made the remarks after seeing photographs on the pub wall of another building that had been set alight.

"He came down and sat down beside me and, after looking at the photographs, said, That's the way to do it. That's what I will have to do, I will have to burn the pub down.' "I told him not to do it because he would get locked up," Mr Shepherd said.

Under cross-examination from Hall's barrister Michael Harrison QC, Mr Shepherd agreed he thought at the time that it was nothing more that a flippant comment rather that a declaration of intent.

Mr Shepherd said: "It was something that I did not believe at the time and it was regarded as a bit of a joke.

"I thought it was a joke, a throwaway remark. If I had thought he had any intention to do it I would have said something and would have probably phoned the police."

Gareth Petty was another work colleague who heard Hall make the remarks, he told the jury. He said Hall had told him he had been up to the Chevin Inn to look for a petrol can.

Mr Petty said that Hall said he would burn the pub down if he could get his dog out of there.

The court has been told that Hall has admitted starting the fire but claims he lit just a small fire on the outside of the door and thought it would burn itself out.

But the prosecution have alleged that Hall chose to start the fire on the only door that gave access to the living quarters where, they say, he knew his estranged wife would be.

Hall, of Scotton Grove, Knaresborough, left the scene after starting the fire, which spread quickly. By the time emergency crews arrived Mrs Thrippleton Hall had died from smoke inhalation.

The court has heard that the pair had bought the pub together and Hall had become upset that Mrs Thrippleton Hall was still living there and that he did not have access to the takings.

The trial continues.

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