A man who stole scientific equipment from his employer to sell on became the 'fall guy' in a plot to sell industrial secrets, a court heard.

Peter Wilson, 38, of High Street, Milton, near Abingdon, was convicted at Northampton Crown Court on Thursday of theft from Oxford Asymmetry International, in Milton Park Industrial Estate, near Abingdon. Judge Julian Hall said Wilson was the fall guy in a conspiracy involving two other former employees.

Wilson told the court he was press-ganged into a plot to steal equipment and chemicals and sell them through a fake company. When he expressed doubts about the plan his colleague threatened to say that Wilson had been making drugs.

Tim Ashmole, prosecuting, said: "Why didn't you tell the police if you were being threatened?"

Mr Ashmole said the other two men implicated had not been prosecuted but all three had been sacked.

Wilson was released on bail until March 30 for sentence at Oxford Crown Court.