Leicester Tigers will be ready for the battle of defending their Aviva Premiership title, says director of rugby Richard Cockerill.

The champions claimed their 10th Premiership crown with victory over Northampton Saints in May.

Tigers are back in pre-season training ahead of the new campaign, which starts in the first weekend of September.

Cockerill warned they will not be resting on former glories as they look to do it all over again.

"We go into the season as champions but our mentality will be to start from scratch," said Cockerill. "We are all equal, and we all go in on an equal footing and we've got to do it all again.

"It's groundhog day. It's a new season but we will have the same problems.

"We will get to the autumn and the Six Nations and we will have half our team missing. But we will go wherever we have to go and we'll have to try to win.

"We will be more than up for the battle and we are looking forward to it."

Tigers could go into the first nine games of the season without their director of rugby, who has been banned for nine weeks for "inappropriate behaviour" towards fourth official Stuart Teerheege during the Premiership final at Twickenham.

Tigers have been given an extension until 9.45am a week tomorrow to decide on whether to appeal the decision.

The Mercury understands that the club are unhappy with elements of the RFU's presentation of the case and want the independent disciplinary panel to have a look at those before they determine whether to appeal or not.

Tigers refused to comment on the situation, while the RFU said they had "no objections" to the extension.

The main focus for Cockerill at the moment, however, is the build-up to the new season, which starts with the visit of Worcester to Welford Road on Saturday, September 8.

This followed by a trip to Bath, a home clash with Dean Richards' Newcastle and a journey to Devon to face Exeter on the last weekend of the month.

"We won't be going around the country saying the champions are in town – we've just got to do what we do," he said.

"That was last season, that's done, great, tick the box, that's history.

"But it doesn't get you any points in the league for next season. You don't start with an extra 10 points because you're champions.

"The really important thing is to forget last season and not rest on our laurels – it's about getting this season right because if you don't, you will become unstuck because it's a very difficult competition.

"I say it every year, there will be 12 clubs that are really optimistic and say this is going to be their best season.

"They think they will have done well in recruitment, that it has been their best pre-season and that they've trained really well.

"There will be some twists and turns and tails. I have no doubt about that.

"It's important that everyone has enjoyed a bit of downtime but now we start pre-season and we start to build and we don't get too far ahead of ourselves."

Jon Ashworth and Liz Kendall have said they do not want the £10,000 pay rise expected to be recommended for MPs.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), which sets MPs' pay and oversees their pensions and allowances, is due to publish proposals tomorrow.

While Ipsa has made no official comment, it is widely expected it will say MPs' pay should increase by about 15 per cent – from £66,396 – after the 2015 General Election.

Many MPs, including David Cameron and Nick Clegg, have already spoken out against Ipsa recommending an inflation-busting pay rise at a time when they are backing public sector pay restraint.

The Mercury e-mailed all nine of county MPs to ask if they thought MPs should get a pay rise and whether they would accept the money, if it is offered.

Mr Ashworth, MP for Leicester South, and Ms Kendall, MP for Leicester West, were the only ones to respond. Neither has a second job.

Mr Ashworth said: "We have a very good salary – £66,000 is a bloody good wage.

"It's much more than I was getting before I was an MP."

Mr Ashworth, who worked as an advisor to a number of politicians, including former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said: "We are in a time of austerity and I don't think, when MPs are telling public sector workers they need to take a pay freeze, they should be getting a £10,000 raise."

Mr Ashworth did not say he would not accept a pay rise.

He said: "I do not want a pay rise. The House of Commons needs a process to deal with that."

It is likely any increase would automatically go into MPs' pay packets.

An Ipsa spokesman said: "Everyone is getting ahead of themselves. We have not recommended anything yet.

"We will not be setting 650 different salary levels. That would just not work."

He did not say if there would be a mechanism for MPs to refuse a raise.

Ms Kendall has said that is what she would do.

"I won't accept a pay rise if this is what Ipsa decides," she said.

"It would be completely wrong when so many of my constituents are desperately struggling to make ends meet and other public sector workers are having to accept a pay freeze.

"I wouldn't have a paid job outside parliament. Being an MP is more than a full-time job."

Conservative Loughborough Nicky Morgan MP and Tory colleague Sir Edward Garnier, who represents Harborough, both referred the Mercury to Ipsa, which in turn said it could not comment.

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz did not respond to the Mercury but told The Guardian: "It is up to Ipsa to consult with the public over any review.

"I would accept an increase or a decrease in pay if that is what the independent body decides.

"Money is not the motivation for becoming an MP. It is for Ipsa to decide what a comparable role in the private sector is, and pay us accordingly."

Conservative MPs Andrew Bridgen, for North West Leicestershire, Alan Duncan, for Rutland and Melton, Andrew Robathan, for South Leicestershire, and Bosworth's David Tredinnick did not respond.

A bank worker who was facing redundancy dishonestly diverted more than £18,000 of her employer's money into her own account.

Kirsty Anderton (37) admitted fraud and theft and was given an 18-month jail sentence, suspended for a year.

She was also placed on a three -month 7pm to 7am curfew.

Leicester Crown Court was told she had worked for RBS since 2004 in a clerical role at the bank's offices in Bede House, Western Boulevard, Leicester.

Mary Loran, prosecuting, said Anderton's responsibilities included moving money between internal accounts and writing out company cheques.

Between March and October last year, she wrote out eight cheques, seven of which were successfully paid into her personal account, involving a total of £18,201.

She attempted to steal a further £3,904 using an eighth cheque that was not honoured.

"The defendant made alterations to the internal accounts to hide what she had done," said Miss Loran.

The court heard the money was used to pay debts.

Anderton, of Main Street, Dunton Bassett, was made redundant and received a £12,000 payment a few days before her dishonesty was discovered.

Her account was frozen and Judge Michael Pert QC issued a confiscation order, directing the redundancy money should go to compensate the RBS.

He told Anderton: "You were employed by a bank and trusted with the responsibility of moving money between accounts.

"You stole the money by transferring it into your own bank account."

James Varley, mitigating, said: "It was theft in breach of trust, but it wasn't from a client account. It's not a case of life savings going missing.

"She survived the first round of redundancies but it was common knowledge another round was coming.

"She was desperate to avoid ruin and to pay off debts.

"She was simply trying to pay her way out of trouble. It made her desperate, anxious and unwell and it was completely out of character.

"It's come back to bite her now. She's on benefits and currently unfit to work.

"She's ruined everything she's striven so hard for."

Traders in a road where armed robbers struck at a bank are calling for CCTV coverage of the area.

The calls have been made by businesses close to Lloyds TSB bank, in Uppingham Road, Leicester, which was targeted shortly before 9am on Thursday.

Police said they believed several men threatened staff with weapons. It is understood the men fled empty-handed.

Following the incident, Paul Curtis, owner of The Card Shop, opposite the bank, said: "There are four banks within a short distance of one another but not a single CCTV camera in the street.

"The same bank was robbed about six months ago and there was a scanning device placed on the cash machine at another.

"Shop owners are concerned about it.

"About four years ago there were 27 break-ins at businesses along the road in a six-month period. I'm sure cameras would prevent things like this happening."

Alka Devshi, of Total Pet Foods, said: "Since we opened here three years ago there have been two bank robberies.

"They should put CCTV cameras in the street. That would give police more of a chance of catching people."

Coleman ward councillor Mian Mayat said: "Having cameras there would have helped. Every bank will have its own CCTV, but there is no external camera on that section of Uppingham Road.

"I will look into it because it could help with security and road safety in the area as well.

"Uppingham Road is a very vibrant, busy road and cameras could help. It is quite costly to put CCTV cameras up and monitor them. There are some in Rowlatts Hill, part of my ward, principally to deter anti-social behaviour."

On Friday, October 12, a shop in Uppingham Road, Leicester, was robbed at gunpoint at 8.15pm.

In July 2011, a security guard locked himself in his van when he feared he was about to be robbed by a motorcyclist.

Police treated the incident, as the guard was preparing to deliver cash to a bank near the junction with Freeman Road North, as an attempted "cash in transit robbery".

In March 2009, the manager of William Hill bookmakers, in Uppingham Road, was ambushed, sprayed in the face and thrown to the ground by robbers who made off with a "substantial" amount of cash.

A police spokeswoman said: "Leicestershire Police work with the council on where the best possible places for cameras would be. However, the decision of whether extra cameras should be installed is down to the city council."

A city council spokesman said: "We will consider the installation of CCTV units in public areas where a need has been identified by crime figures."

A council has seized and crushed two cars after discovering they had not been taxed.

A Peugeot 406 and a Ford Mondeo belonging to an Enderby man were lowered into the crusher at Wigston Car Breakers, in Harrison Close, on Thursday.

One of the vehicles had not been taxed since August 2008. It had a tax disc registered to another vehicle on display.

Blaby District Council, which seized the vehicles, did not give details of the second car.

Nigel Roe, owner of the South Wigston breaker's yard, said: "We used to do a lot of these for the police until they started taking them to auction.

"I think they figured out they could make a bit of money from them instead. We still do the council ones.

"The cars come in and we de-pollute them, which means taking out the battery, engine, fuel and tires.

"Then we put them into the machine and they come out about the size of a fridge-freezer."

The cars are then taken away and broken up to be sold as scrap.

Councillor Guy Jackson, portfolio holder for regulatory and neighbourhood services, warned motorist they faced having their cars crushed if their tax discs were not kept up-to-date.

He said: "The council has received numerous complaints about untaxed vehicles and several have been taken away and disposed of.

"Untaxed vehicles are illegal and cause a nuisance to other motorists. It's important to keep your tax up to date and failure to so could result in you losing your vehicle."

The council said anyone found to have an untaxed vehicle could find it taken to the council's pound until it was claimed by the owner.

There is a fine of £260 for every vehicle removed, including a £160 deposit for a valid tax disc.

There is a further charge of £100 if the vehicle is not claimed for a second day, followed by £21 a day after that.

The council has two officers with the power to remove untaxed vehicles parked in the street.

If a vehicle is registered as being off the road, it will be removed if parked on the highway.

Leicester Lions have all their big hitters in action tonight as they aim to take the shine off Newcastle Diamonds.

The north-east club are riding on the crest of a wave having just made it through to the League Cup final after completing an aggregate win over Sheffield last weekend.

Newcastle are the only team unbeaten at home this season in the Premier League and, although they were held to a draw by Ipswich recently, the Diamonds are well placed with matches in hand over the leading group of clubs.

It will be a huge challenge for the Harry Jordan Haulage-sponsored Lions, who have lost their last three outings.

But, on this occasion, they can at least call on a full-strength line-up at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium.

Lasse Bjerre returns after recovering from an injury picked up playing football, while Magnus Karlsson, who has been struggling with shoulder trouble, is also set to ride.

Reserve Alex Edberg is out though, having suffered a broken collar-bone and hand after crashing in Sweden on Thursday. Former Lion Simon Nielsen steps in.

Co-promoter Alan Jones knows it will be a big challenge. "Apart from Newcastle, everyone has lost at least one home fixture and we have to count on not losing another," he said.

"A win tonight is a must because I cannot see any of the top six dropping further points at home and we have to be on our very best form to succeed.

"When you take a look at their team statistics, the one fact that jumps out at you is that five of their riders have increased their race points' average from the figures they started with at the beginning of the season."

Still fresh in the memory is the Lions' last home meeting, when they were beaten 47-46 by Somerset despite holding a 12-point lead at one stage. It was their first home league defeat since August 2011.

"The longer our home Premier League unbeaten record went on the more our expectations grew but I think we all knew deep down that good things always come to an end," said Jones.

"We have to forget about the result and, starting tonight, push on to seal a win to consolidate our position as play-off candidates."

The Lions have another big day ahead of them at Peterborough tomorrow when they aim to go one step further in the Premier League Fours' competition.

The Lions have twice finished runners-up and this year are in Group B alongside Somerset, Edinburgh and Newcastle.

The two highest-scoring teams progress to the final where they meet the winners and second-placed teams of Group A.

Jones said: "While our group on paper looks to be the strongest, there is every chance we can reach a third final," added Jones.

Lions will field of Karlsson, Bjerre, Kevin Doolan and Kauko Nieminen.

A dishonest accounts manager and her husband blew more than £200,000 of stolen cash on "fast cars and high living," a court heard.

Margaret Yates (57), also known as Elaine, helped herself to her employer's funds at Sygnet Signs Ltd, of Humberstone Road, Leicester.

It resulted in seven employees being made redundant.

She lavished luxuries on her husband, Adrian Yates (45), to keep his interest, Leicester Crown Court was told.

They splashed out on a series of luxury cars, including a £48,000 Audi TT and an £80,000 Audi RS5.

They also enjoyed overseas holidays costing up to £3,000-a-trip, said James Bide-Thomas, prosecuting.

Their three-year spending spree came to an abrupt end in June last year, when the company unearthed the £25,000-a-year account manager's greed and dishonesty.

Margaret Yates admitted fraudulently obtaining £211,412, and was jailed for three years. Her now ex-husband, who admitted possessing criminal property, was sentenced to 22 months.

Afterwards, managing director, Gary Iley, said: "The effect of her dishonesty was we made seven people redundant. It was the worst part of my professional career having to let them go.

"The recession created a smokescreen enabling her to steal the money without the company noticing.

"We count our blessings we're still in business and have successfully rallied round and taken on more staff, bringing our workforce up to 44.

"I'm disgusted by her actions which could have ruined many livelihoods. They both deserve to go to prison."

After being arrested, the defendants were involved in a failed suicide pact, said defence counsel, Richard Holloway. They planned to kill themselves using gas and knives.

However, they were rescued after suffering injuries – and then charged with attempting to murder each other.

They spent nine weeks in custody before the attempted murder case was dropped against them.

Margaret Yates, who later moved into a hostel in Tigers Close, Wigston, worked for Sygnet Signs Ltd between September, 2009, and June last year.

Adrian Yates, of Lansdowne Grove, Wigston, accepted that £68,430 of the stolen cash went through his bank account.

Married for 17 years, they have since divorced.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Pert QC told Margaret Yates: "You abused your position of trust by dishonestly making payments into bank accounts over which you and your husband had control, taking over £211,000.

"You took amounts on numerous occasions of sums small enough to be lost in the accounting system. It was spent on fast cars and high living.

"You did it for the good life, for the two of you and at the expense of everyone else."

Mr Holloway claimed two things sparked the offending – a resentment against the company and her husband's infidelity. He said: "She still loved her husband and in many ways it was an attempt to keep him."

Steven Newcombe, for Adrian Yates, said: "He became aware of where the money came from but wasn't involved in the removal of company funds.

"His Tourette's syndrome causes him to feel considerable inadequacy and the material possessions gave him an immediate boost.

"He was never able to afford the luxuries in which he indulged."

The smiles returned to Leicestershire Foxes supporters' faces at Grace Road last night. And why not?

They had just seen their side pick up a crucial Friends Life T20 victory over previously unbeaten Nottinghamshire Outlaws to keep alive their hopes of a place in the quarter-finals.

It was a comprehensive seven-wicket victory, too, as the Foxes chased down a target of 159.

At one point, the run-chase appeared as though it might have been a good deal more exacting after the Outlaws made a rapid start having been put into bat on a beautiful evening.

But Leicestershire's bowlers stuck to their guns and Shakib Al Hasan and Shiv Thakor ensured, over the second half of the innings, that Notts were frustrated.

Having raced out of the blocks the visitors had 58 on the board at the end of six overs of powerplay.

But Shakib's figures of 1-21, backed by Thakor's return of 3-30, meant that their side were well and truly in the game at the halfway stage.

They took a step backwards when Greg Smith fell in the first over to Luke Fletcher but skipper Josh Cobb saw the job through – and this time Shakib also joined him at the party with the bat.

The Foxes, who it has to be said benefited from some dubious Nottinghamshire fielding as four potential catches hit the deck, built around Cobb's unbeaten 67, which from 52 balls was conservative in his terms.

However, at the other end after a brisk 26 from Joe Burns and a breezy 14 from Niall O'Brien, Shakib really turned up the heat on the Nottinghamshire attack.

It was thrilling, breathtaking stuff from the Bangladeshi superstar.

Prior to his assault on the Outlaws, he had enjoyed little success with the bat for Leicestershire, often the victim of poor shot selection and, on occasions, of some brilliant work in the field.

But on this occasion he was devastating and the bulk of his work was right out of the middle of the bat.

By the close, he had battered 43 from just 21 deliveries, dominating an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 67 with his captain.

He really lifted the pace in the 13th over when he showed, against the spin of Graham White, that he was determined to see his side over the line. Shakib blasted two immense sixes as the Foxes raced from 100-3 to 114-3 and brought the finishing line into sight.

He then went close to repeating the dose with a brace of boundaries and a six that threatened to fuse the electronic scoreboard as slow left-armer Samit Patel came under heavy fire.

In all, 17 runs came from that over and, at 141-3 with four overs to go, Leicestershire were frankly as good as home.

It was fitting that the winning runs should come from Cobb as he drilled Ian Butler for four in the 18th over to leave the bulk of a large crowd at Grace Road thirsting for more T20 action, which few would have thought the likely scenario after the disappointment of Tuesday night's display against the Yorkshire Vikings.

The one major disappointment on the night for Leicestershire was the shoulder injury suffered in the field by off-spinner Jigar Naik, who looks set for a six-week spell on the sidelines.

Laura Murphy knew her long-standing boyfriend was planning to propose to her, but decided to beat him to it.

To make the occasion extra special she chose to do it 300ft underground in a heritage coal mine.

During the tour of the Big Pit, in south east Wales, the lights were switched off so everybody could experience the darkness.

When the lights were turned back on, Laura, 25, of Leicester, was on one knee ready to ask the question.

The De Montfort University student described it as the most nerve-wracking moment of her life.

"I had planned to read out a short poem but I was so nervous, I ended up just mumbling, 'will you marry me?'

"No wonder girls wait for the men to do it."

Boyfriend Callum Tharratt, 24, also of Leicester, had no idea what his girlfriend of one-and-a-half years was planning.

Callum, who works in construction, said: "I'm still excited, I just can't get my head around it."

Laura said: "He was so shocked, he couldn't speak through his tears.

"I know he was planning to propose to me but I wanted to get in there first."

The mother-of-one said she liked to be quirky and different, rather than traditional.

Callum had always wanted to visit the Big Pit and Laura decided to make their first visit extra special.

Callum said: "I didn't have a clue, I was blown away. It was amazing and I couldn't have asked for anything more.

"Me being Mr Emotional, I just couldn't help getting teary.

"This has made us a proper family, it's made my life and I'm over the moon."

He said he was surprised his fiancee managed to keep the secret from him.

"She didn't let me know anything, I don't know how she did it," he said.

"I think girls should do it more often. They don't understand how it makes a man feel.

"I hate all of this traditional stuff. Our wedding is going to be authentic and different."

The couple, who are hoping to marry in the summer of 2015, said everybody thought it was fantastic.

He said: "All my mates think it's the best proposal they've heard of, they love it."

Laura, who studies nursing, chose to give him a titanium ring, with a small diamond in it.

Callum said: "She did really well. I absolutely love the ring, it is so nice and so me. And it has a little bit of bling, which is what I need."

"This is all I've ever wanted and, hopefully, we'll have a long life together."

Laura said: "He's my best friend and everything else rolled into one and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him."

Leicester City got their pre-season campaign off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory over Leamington.

Chris Wood and Martyn Waghorn netted two second-half goals as City beat the Conference North side in front of more than 1,000 supporters at the New Windmill Ground.

After a scrappy first half which ended 0-0, City took advantage of the tiring Leamington legs and, with some more clinical finishing and barring a number of quality saves from Brakes keeper Tony Breeden, it could well have been more.

City had the better of the opening exchanges, but it was by no means one-way traffic as neither side were able to create any real clear-cut chances.

Neil Danns came closest after five minutes, in his first appearance in a City shirt since the 4-2 defeat to Burton in the League Cup last August.

Leamington failed to deal with a cross and the midfielder tried his luck from distance but his fizzing long-range effort flew just over the bar.

City were given two wake-up calls after a quarter-of-an-hour as they failed to deal with dangerous corners, which both flashed across the face of the goal unchallenged.

It was then that Nigel Pearson's men went into action. A deep cross was met at the far post by Ritchie De Laet but his volleyed effort landed on the roof of the net.

As the half wore on, City began to find their stride and create more chances, although they were unable to find that clinical edge.

Firstly, Jeff Schlupp fired in a stinging shot, which was palmed away by Breeden, before Danns again did well to beat two players before firing just wide.

Jacob Blyth, who City signed from Leamington last summer, received a great ovation on the half-hour mark as he came on to replace Marko Futacs.

City ended the first half the stronger, Danns and Paul Gallagher both forced saves with long-range efforts, but Leamington held on well, Jamie Towers impressing for the hosts down the right.

Pearson fielded 11 fresh faces for the second half and the new legs quickly made a difference.

Inside the first minute of the half, Lloyd Dyer broke into the box on the left, had just the keeper to beat, but smashed the ball against the advertising hoardings.

It wasn't long before Waghorn was getting in on the action as he twisted and turned his way past his man on the edge of the area before firing his left-footed strike on target, once more saved by the highly-impressive Breeden.

The long-range efforts kept on coming, Matty James the next to try his luck, after a sharp one-two with Anthony Knockaert.

City were nearly made to pay for not taking their chances when Ricky Johnson latched on to the end of a cross and stuck a beautifully-timed volley, which was just wide.

There was a huge sigh of relief for City on the hour-mark when Chris Wood opened his, and City's, pre-season account.

Waghorn scuffed his effort on goal, the ball squirmed its way through a couple of defenders into the path of the oncoming Wood who tapped it in from close range.

As the Leamington legs tired, City were able to start passing the ball around more freely.

Appeals for a penalty were turned down as Waghorn took a tumble in the box.

Just seconds later, he was on his feet, latching on to the end of a ball from Wood, and curling his effort into the far corner.

Wood really should have doubled his tally with 15 minutes left when Knockaert found the New Zealand international unmarked on the penalty spot but he nodded his tame effort wide of the post.

He then had another golden opportunity going into the closing minutes as he was played through one-on-one with the keeper but this time he smashed his effort just over the bar.

Towers had the chance to make a name for himself right at the death, getting ahead of Zak Whitbread and pulling the trigger buthis shot was just over. Victory never looked in doubt for Pearson's men and they closed out for a 2-0 win.

Leamington: Tony Breeden, James Mace, Stephan Morley, Joe Magunda, Paul McCone, Josh Green, Jamie Towers, Lee Chilton, Ricky Johnson, Craig Owen, Richard Batchelor. Subs: Lee Moore, Martyn Naylor, Sam Adkins, Alex Taylor, James Husband, Lewis Fenney

City (first half): Conrad Logan, Ritchie De Laet, Alie Sesay, Wes Morgan, George Taft, Paul Gallagher, Ben Marshall, Neil Danns, Jeff Schlupp, Jamie Vardy, Marko Futacs

City (second half): Adam Smith, Michael Cain, Liam Moore, Zak Whitbread, Callum Elder, Anthony Knockaert, Andy King, Matty James, Lloyd Dyer, Martyn Waghorn, Chris Wood

City subs: Jacob Blyth, Harry Panayiotou, Jamie Anton, Jak McCourt, Rob Paratore, Tom Hopper, Joe Dodoo

A shisha café boss has gone on trial accused of endangering lives by starting a £100,000 fire at a rival's business.

Imtiyaz Patel (28) allegedly torched Cloud Nine shisha café, on the third floor of Curzon House, in Curzon Street, St Matthew's, Leicester. The lower floors of the building, two factories, were evacuated.

Fourteen fire engines attended the scene, on October 25. Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles.

At Leicester Crown Court, Patel, who ran The Unit café, in Belgrave Gate, denies arson recklessly endangering lives.

After his arrest in November, he allegedly confessed in a police interview, saying his business was not doing well and he caused the fire out of "spite".

Victoria Rose, prosecuting, said: "We say it was the defendant who set those premises alight.

"In August to September last year, the defendant took over The Unit café which made him a competitor of Cloud Nine."

A phone call reporting the fire was made at 11.17am.

The jurors were shown CCTV footage of Patel, a former electrician, allegedly parking his Vauxhall Corsa outside the building shortly before the fire.

Wearing a jacket with the hood up, he was filmed walking inside, carrying two bags.

Inside, he allegedly used a crowbar to enter the café.

Wires were cut as the CCTV system hard drive was allegedly removed and the intruder alarm deactivated.

Miss Rose said: "He's seen leaving by the same door and there's smoke visible in the air."

On November 12, a cleaner in St James Road, Highfields, discovered a CCTV hard drive, a green canvas bag and a cigarette lighter in a dustbin, two doors from where the defendant's brother lived and where Patel's car was registered.

Miss Rose said: "It was identified as being the same hard drive."

"The dark green bag is the same bag you saw the defendant carrying," she told the jury.

When arrested on November 30, Patel, of Herschell Street, Highfields, Leicester, initially denied any involvement and claimed his Corsa was in the garage for repairs at the time.

He accepted knowing where the Cloud Nine CCTV hard drive was hidden.

He said the green bag was his, claiming he had left it somewhere.

When the police showed him CCTV footage of him entering, using a crowbar upstairs and leaving, Patel said: "It wasn't supposed to be that big."

Miss Rose said: "He said his business was in difficulties and he started it out of spite.

"He accepted it was him in the footage and his vehicle was parked outside and wasn't at a garage.

"He said he forced the door open with a crowbar and removed the hard drive.

"He had difficulty starting the fire and found a lighter behind the counter which he used.

"He said he poured petrol to ignite the fire and even went into detail about when and where he purchased the petrol. He was asked if anyone had put him up to starting the fire and he said no-one had."

Liakut Sheikh, owner of Cloud Nine, said he had considered Patel a family friend and had known him for about five years.

Mr Sheikh said despite having "some form of insurance", he was unable to continue with his business that had taken two years to build up.

He estimated loss and fire damage in excess of £100,000.

Mr Sheikh was cross-examined about an ongoing dispute with a brother-in-law.

It involved accusations on both sides about a car being set on fire.

Defence counsel, Earl Pinnock, asked Mr Sheikh if he initially considered the Cloud Nine arson to be linked with the in-law dispute.

Mr Sheikh said: "No. I knew he (the brother-in-law) didn't know where the hard drive was."

He said Patel would have known where it was.

However, he did say when he attended the scene of the fire he saw his brother-in-law driving by smiling.

The trial continues.