A businessman is being investigated by police after a shotgun was fired at a neighbour’s burglar alarm late at night.

Peter Shalson, 52, was questioned following an incident at the property next to his detached home in St John’s Wood, north west London, earlier this month.

A butler at the neighbour’s house claimed CCTV footage had caught an intruder climbing a cast-iron fence, smashing a glass door and then shooting the alarm’s control box to stop it ringing.

Mr Shalson grew up in Hendon and transformed East End coathanger supplier Braitrim before selling the company for more than £100 million.

He is now a pub entrepreneur and venture capitalist and is thought to be worth around £175 million.

He has supported Jewish Care and is the main backer behind the London Academy school in Edgware.

Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man had attended a central London police station a fortnight ago and was arrested on suspicion of burglary and firearms offences.

Mr Shalson was unavailable for comment.