A MAN accused of lying to police about where he was when a series of fires were started outside shops has been released on bail by a judge.

Steven Chapman is also said to have started the nine blazes, mostly in bins, over a few days at the end of August and start of September last year.

No charges were put to Chapman, 24, of Broad Town Road, Broad Town, and he did not enter any pleas when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court.

He is accused of perverting the course of justice in September by giving a name to police to provide an alibi which was untrue.

Chapman also faces nine counts of arson to commercial bins and premises in Westbury, High Street, between August 30 and September 5.

Judge Peter Blair QC adjourned the case to Friday, June 12, and released Chapman on conditional bail until then.

He told him he must either live with his mother in Broad Town or at an address in Market Place, Westbury.

 

* The case against Mr Chapman was later dropped