Bramley Grange chef cleared of arson charge

Malcolm Titley, the 25-year-old chef accused of setting fire to the Bramley Grange Hotel near Guildford, Surrey, was last week cleared of arson by an Old Bailey jury.

The 48-bedroom, mock-Tudor country house hotel, owned by Paragon Hotels and managed by Macdonald Hotels, was completely gutted by fire last spring. Damage was estimated at £3m-£6m.

Mr Titley, who had worked at the property for 18 months, was promptly accused of starting the blaze and arrested.

But the Old Bailey heard Mr Titley protest his innocence. An expert witness for the defence told the court that an electrical fault could have caused the fire.

St John Stott, group financial accountant of Paragon Hotels, told Caterer the company had not yet decided whether to rebuild the hotel or sell the land.