A FURNITURE shop owner accused of deliberately causing a massive explosion, which left 81 people injured, in a bungled insurance scam, has protested his innocence.

Pascal Blasio is alleged to have uncapped a gas pipe and opened an emergency control valve to fill his New Ferry shop premises with gas which later ignited causing a huge blast which destroyed or damaged 63 properties and rocked other parts of Wirral.

A 21-year-old man unfortunately sitting at a bus stop outside 'Homes in Style' about 9.15pm on March 25, 2017 when it exploded was left "clinging to life" with multiple injuries and has been left with life-changing and serious on-going problems.

Blasio, 57, who was living in Wallasey at the time, is facing a re-trial at Liverpool Crown Court after a jury in January was discharged.

He denies causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.

He also denies fraud involving an insurance claim put in two working days after the blast. This was initially for £50,000 worth of lost furniture though later reduced to £33,157.

Blasio, of Gillingham, Kent, told the jury that he took over the premises in Bebington Road on a three year lease, seven months before the explosion and described it as "the perfect unit. I was totally excited, I could see what could be achieved."

He said that he ploughed all he had, £30,000 savings, into opening the business.

Questioned by his QC David Mason he said there was no gas coming into the premises and did not know there was a disused gas supply to the premises.

Asked if he had been involved in causing the explosion or knew who had Blasio replied, "No."

It is alleged by the prosecution that at the time he had been on the verge of bankruptcy but Blasio denied this and maintained the business "was ticking over nicely."

He said he had not been made bankrupt and at the time of the explosion "had no doubt" that he would get a loan against his buy-to-rent property in Croydon.

He described the two trials as "the worst thing in my life".

He said that he felt sorry for the shopkeepers and others affected but added: "I am a victim as well and I am being hounded.

"My whole life has been completely demolished."

Asked by Mr Mason today (Thur) if it had been in his interest to blow up his store he responded: "Why would it be in my interest to blow up my income, my shop?"

He said he locked up the shop at 6pm that Saturday evening, put the alarm on and went home.

It is suggested that an electric fire found in the rubble had been the ignition source for the blast but Blasio said he had turned it off at the plug.

Blasio said that his wife’s sister's husband had died from cancer and he put a notice on the shutter saying the shop was closed until Tuesday as they were going to the funeral on the Monday.

He said he wrote that it was for staff training because he did not think it appropriate to say it was for a family funeral.

He first learnt about the explosion when his business partner Graham Rankin rang him that evening but he thought he was "winding me up" and hung up on him.

After Graham rang him back and said he was going to look, Blasio said he and his wife got a taxi to the scene which by then had been cordoned off.

"I asked a policeman what was happening.

"It was like a war zone, it was awful."

He said he was "completely shocked. I could have been in the shop, my missus could have been in the shop. My wife was crying.

"The whole thing was a complete and utter shock to me."

Asked by Mr Mason: "Did you have anything to do with blowing up your store?' he replied, "Not, no, no.”

Cross-examined by Nigel Lawrence QC, prosecuting, Blasio disputed evidence from witnesses who have told the court how "sparsely" furnished the store was in the days leading up to the explosion.

He said that Graham had put in the insurance claim and went for the ball park figure of £50,000, which was the maximum permissible.

Quizzed about the firm’s turnover of £63,423 over its seven months trading and other financial details Blasio said: "I'm innocent. I am being questioned by you and doing the best I can to give the answers I can."

It was pointed out that he had claimed £33,000 insurance payout but an agreed financial experts report put the figure at £12,700.

Blasio said that a record book he used had not been complete and did not include all the cash payments.

"Do you accept that in the three weeks leading up to the explosion a huge amount of furniture disappeared out the shop? asked Mr Lawrence.

"No," he replied.

He suggested that one of the various witnesses who spoke of how the store was "virtually empty" was part of a "witch hunt" against him.

Blasio said he had not had any deliveries or collections in the week and a half before the fateful day and denied that two large vans seen by the open back doors of his shop were taking away furniture.

It is claimed by the prosecution that he was deliberately selling off stock in an attempt to raise cash to live on.

He disputes this and pointed out: "I was more than confident that I would get the money, I knew I would get my loan."

He maintained: "I’m innocent. I’ve done nothing wrong."

Blasio’s wife, Sonia, who ran a florist business from the same premises, told the court today "'Homes in Style' was our dream. He is such a good sales person and always wanted to get his own business."

Mrs Blasio, who gave her evidence from behind a screen, said they had been told the premises only ran on electricity.

She said the business was “doing okay, we weren’t making millions, it was long time investment.”

She added that they could always have raised capital from their property in Croydon.

The case continues