Store arsonist, 28, given indefinite jail sentence

The store at South Aylesford Retail Park in Aylesford, Kent, had around 100 customers and 20 members of staff inside at the time but was evacuated quickly and no one was injured in the blaze on May 1.

Benny Dighton, 28, pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court, to two counts of arson with intent to endanger life and one count of attempted arson with intent to endanger life when he appeared in court last month.

The other offences were in relation to a small fire at a B&Q store in nearby Larkfield on the same day and an incident in B&Q in Maidstone on May 3, when staff found a heap of wood doused in methylated spirits.

Dighton, formerly of Chelmar Road, Chatham, stared straight ahead with his hands clasped in front of him as he was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection of at least four years.

The fire at the Homebase store was tackled by around 100 firefighters and thick plumes of black smoke could be seen from miles around.

Fire crews who arrived at the store four minutes after the alarms had gone off at 12.42pm found the heat so intense they could not get their water jets close enough and feared there could be an explosion, so had to fight the fire from outside.

The 48,000 sq ft store was burnt to the ground and they were also unable to stop the fire spreading to a neighbouring Carpetright store.

Andrew Espley, prosecuting, said the cost of the loss of the store's fixtures, fittings and stock along with the loss of trade amounted to 5m, while the cost of rebuilding it would be 3m.

All 68 employees have been redeployed to other branches and will be able to return to when it reopens next year.