A chef who set fire to the Italian restaurant which employed him, causing an estimated #350,000 worth of damage, has been jailed for two years.

The full story behind the blaze, which destroyed The Italian restaurant in Paisley at Christmas 1997, remains a mystery, despite the wilful fire-raising conviction.

Franco Curci, 44, was found guilty of deliberately setting fire to the premises, which were managed by his brother, Renzo, who was set to take over the lease.

The jury at Paisley Sheriff Court heard three days of evidence, much of which pointed the finger of blame directly at him.

Yet, nothing was led to show any motive, although the prosecution claimed that the act could have been a bid to win an insurance pay-out for those who held the lease at the time.

Curci, of High Street, Dalbeattie, Kircudbrightshire, protested his innocence throughout and still refused to accept any of the blame when he returned to court for sentence. At the close of the trial, Sheriff Ronald Smith said he had no doubt that others had been involved.

When Curci returned to court for sentence, defence agent Murray Macara described the sheriff's comments as ''very telling''.

He said: ''It is undoubtedly the case that there is no motive as far as my client is concerned.

''It may very well be that this restaurant was set on fire deliberately for economic reasons by people who had a financial stake in the premises.

''Mr Curci recognises he has been convicted of a very serious offence. He became involved in an incident which was not of his making or choosing but he is the person who will have to pay the price.''

Curci had arrived in Scotland from Italy with his wife and family just five months earlier to work for his brother who was general manager.

Curci said he had enjoyed working there, was looking forward to his brother taking over and could only lose from such a devastating incident. He said it was ''ludicrous'' to claim that he should set fire to the property is such circumstances.

The prosecution, however, produced damning evidence to convict him.

Clothes taken from him showed signs of contact with petrol and forensic tests inside the charred building confirmed that an accelerant had been used at two of the three separate seats of fire.

Police officers saw him leaving the premises around the time the fire was first reported to the emergency services - just before 1am on December 27.

One, who spoke to Curci after stopping his car as it was being driven out of Miller Street, said flames and smoke were already pouring from the roof of the building.

There were loud bangs as sections of the roof began to collapse, yet it seemed Curci, who was smelling of drink, had not noticed anything. Curci was breath-tested and charged with drink driving.

On his arrest, an empty petrol can was recovered from the vehicle he had been driving.

It was stated he was a first offender with no criminal record either in the UK or Italy.

Sentencing the accused, Sheriff Smith said: ''The only redeeming feature is that there were no lives put at risk, but it is still a very serious matter when someone sets fire to property for gain, even if that gain is not theirs.''

Curci was also disqualified from driving for one year after he admitted drink driving.