A KNUTSFORD taxi driver told Chester Crown Court how he came across a man attempting to torch a silver Vauxhall Corsa as he turned into a Mobberley lane.

David Stimpson was coming back from a job in Altrincham on the morning of August 9 at around 10.25am when he drove into Smith Lane.

He said he saw a man, wearing a dark colour Barbour style wax jacket with hood up and sunglasses on, standing next to the car, road side, and a bike was straddled between his legs.

“He had something in his hand which was on fire, whether it was a newspaper I’m not sure,” he said.

“He was stood next to the petrol cap and the petrol flap was open – I thought it was a strange thing to be doing and thought the person was trying to set it on fire. He looked towards me and didn’t give any reaction and set off on his bike shortly after, heading towards me.

“He went right past my window and as it was a hot day it was down so I asked him a question ‘what’s going on?’ but I didn’t get a reply and he just put his head down.”

Mr Stimpson added he could not see the man’s face as his hood was up and he was wearing ‘Bono’-style wrap-around sunglasses but he called the police and drove up to the Corsa to find it filled with smoke.

He turned round his taxi and began to follow the cyclist but after being spotted the man dumped the bike and jumped over a stile and into a field.

Police later asked him to attempt an e-fit of the man and attend an ID parade but Mr Stimpson said any attempt at either would have been ‘pure guess work’.