A MAN who denies causing an explosion by setting his Worcester flat ablaze told a jury yesterday he was the victim of an ongoing feud.

Christopher Wisocki insisted he knew the identity of the arsonist - but refused to name him.

He said he would rather go to jail for a crime he had not carried out rather than "grass" someone up.

Wisocki claimed the trouble began over an ex-girlfriend which led to groups of men clashing.

He told Worcester Crown Court his windows had been smashed and he had been beaten up.

He also insisted he had an alibi for the time that fire broke out in the first floor flat above a kitchen shop in Droitwich Road.

Wisocki, aged 22, denies arson while reckless whether life was endangered. Petrol in the flat exploded after fire broke out in the early hours of September 14 last year. Brickwork was sent crashing into the street and the roof collapsed Giving evidence, Wisocki said he had been happy living at the rented flat, although he had problems in a nearby pub.

He admitted buying two cans of petrol from a garage but said it was for a friend's off-road motorbike, so that he could ride it. On the blaze night, he drank half a bottle of brandy at home before drinking at a pub, although he denied being drunk.

Wisocki claimed he packed a bag and left at 10pm for the home of a man he named as Steve Banks, who lived in Dines Green.

He stayed overnight but was told in the morning about the 1.30am blaze and caught a bus to go to the council's housing office in Farrier Street, where he was arrested. Wisocki refused to answer questions in a police interview, claiming he was shocked. He insisted that petrol found on his clothing must have come from spilled fuel as he filled the cans.

Fire officers found the remains of the cans bought by Wisocki in the rubble.