A MAN fears for his safety because he shares the name of a businessman whose life has been threatened.

Michael Austen, 58, believes his is the victim of mistaken identity, and has become particularly concerned after his van was torched outside his house.

Mr Austen is actually the uncle of the 30-year-old man of the same name who is at the centre of the death threat claims.

But he says he has had no contact with that side of his family for years following a family dispute.

Michael junior is at the centre of a unique legal challenge to force Wiltshire Police to tell him who made death threats towards him and appeared at London’s High Court on Monday.

But his uncle said people are confusing him with his younger relative and he wants to make it clear he has no connection with him.

“I’ve had a couple of calls since the article was in the paper from people who seem to be getting me confused with the person mentioned,” he said.

“Earlier in the year several criminal incidents happened against me, which I believe may be related to this.”

Michael senior, who runs an electrical import business, said his Mercedes van was mysteriously burnt out in front of his house.

There was also damage to several vehicles he owned which were parked in a nearby road.

He said: “I had my van torched at the front of my house and the police and fire said that an accelerant was used. Then about £3,000 worth of damage was done to my vehicles that were parked up the road.”

Michael senior, who is married with three daughters and five grandaughters, used to be in business with his brother Brian Austen, who runs Austen Brothers Circus and is Michael junior’s father, until a couple of years ago when they parted acrimoniously.

Since then he has started his own business and has had no contact with them, despite also living in Cricklade.

Michael senior added: “Although I’m nearly 60 there is a family resemblance between us and a few people have said ‘You seem to be getting younger and better looking!’”