A BUSINESSMAN accused of starting a house fire to target his best man has denied trying to “punish” him for having an affair with his wife.

Martin Nganga, of Tiverton Road, Wembley, London, has pleaded not guilty to arson with intent to endanger life in the early hours of January 29 last year.

The 46-year-old is accused of pouring petrol into the hallway of a house in Mallard Close, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, and causing a blaze that forced tenants to jump to safety from first floor windows.

Rebecca Austin, prosecuting, told a jury at Oxford Crown Court his intended target was Peter Kiriamburi, who had a relationship with the defendant’s wife after they divorced in 2012.

Siobhan Grey, defending, yesterday asked why he had sent Mr Kiriamburi a text message telling him: “The two of you will cry every single day for the rest of your lives, watch out.”

He said: “I was exploring the possibility of having the two of them prosecuted (under Kenyan law).”

But he said he stopped sending messages by early 2013 because: “I was ready to move on with my life.”

Miss Austin suggested he intended to “punish” his former friend, but Nganga replied: “It is not for me to punish them, it is the courts of law.”

The trial continues.