A second man has been charged following an investigation into a ‘deliberate’ fire at Fairways Business Park in Inverness.
Today, a 38-year-old man is due to appear at Inverness Sheriff Court accused of the ‘wilful fire’.
The blaze, which ignited back in March, caused catastrophic damage, resulting in the premises being bulldozed.
It’s the second arrest made by police in connection with the incident.
Jack Ventham, 34, appeared in court on Monday, accused of starting the devastating inferno.
He made no plea and was committed for further examination.
It comes after Police Scotland launched an investigation to find a “balaclava-clad” male who is accused of “deliberately” driving a vehicle into the business park, destroying four units on March 9 of this year.
A man wearing dark clothing and a balaclava was then seen running away from the business park towards Walter Scott Drive.
Police have thanked the local community for their cooperation during their two-month investigation.
Detective Inspector Caroline MacKay said: “I would like to extend my thanks to the local community for their co-operation and support during this investigation”.
Fairways Business Park fire devastated several businesses
A large fire service presence was called upon to extinguish the dramatic blaze that night on March 9.
Six fire crews were sent to the scene and battled the “well-developed” fire for hours.
No one was injured at the incident, but business owners were left counting the cost after several business units were unable to be saved.
Pictures taken at the time show the high levels of devastation caused, with repairs to the site still ongoing to this day.
Damage was also caused to the entranceway of Inverness’s Kart Raceway, which has since re-opened.
Meanwhile, Harry Gow Bakery, the SJ Travel Centre, fishmongers Scottish Premium Seafood and hairdresser HFM were also affected.
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