A CONVICTED killer told a court his perceived threat to have a car belonging to a feuding neighbour “torched” was a misinterpreted joke.

Dennis Scott, who served a life sentence for the “one-arm bandit” murder of Angus Sibbett, in 1967, was yesterday giving evidence at Durham Crown Court for allegedly threatening to damage or destroy a Royale Sabre replica kit car owned by his namesake neighbour, Charles Scott.

The court has heard that both live in separate apartments at Stanhope Castle, in Stanhope, County Durham.

They fell out over freehold and access to common parts of the castle, after Charles Scott, a non-practising solicitor, moved into one of the flats in November 2007, soon setting up a residents’ management committee.

Dennis Scott told the court he disliked Charles Scott’s “arrogant” manner and misperception that he was “Lord of the Manor”, putting up a flag when he was in residence at the castle and referring to villagers in Stanhope as “peasants”.

When he gave evidence, Charles Scott denied using the term “peasants”, but admitted flying a cross of St George from the flag pole, which he paid to have repaired.

The court heard there was particular bad blood over Charles Scott parking his Royale Sabre in a disused garage, in a courtyard area of the castle, which Dennis Scott claimed he owned.

During the row, Dennis Scott is alleged to have told another neighbour, Stanhope cafe owner Gordon Witton, that it would be funny if Charles Scott’s “pride and joy”, meaning his car, was torched.

But, giving evidence yesterday, Dennis Scott said he was approached by a man who offered to torch the car or assault Charles Scott for £100.

Dennis Scott said he told him to go away as he wanted nothing to do with him.

But, when he recounted this approach to Mr Witton, he told the court that he did say: “I would be tempted (to have the car torched) if he (Charles Scott) was in it.”

Dennis Scott described it as, “an off-the-cuff” remark and said Mr Witton possibly “misinterpreted” his humorous comments.

Several weeks later, Charles Scott’s car was destroyed in a still-unsolved arson attack, which also damaged nearby workshops owned by Dennis Scott.

The incident also forced residents to have to evacuate the castle.

Dennis Scott said he and his wife, Merle, were visiting friends in Hertford on the weekend of the blaze, on June 21 and 22, last year.

Following the blaze Mr Witton told police of Dennis Scott’s comments made weeks earlier.

Seventy-five-year-old Mr Scott denies a charge of making a threat to destroy or damage property.

The trial continues today.