DIY store arsonist to be sentenced
27 August 2010 10:04
A 27-year-old man is to be sentenced for starting a fire in a Homebase store in Kent when it was full of shoppers.
No one was injured in the incident at South Aylesford Retail Park in Aylesford, but the store was completely destroyed and a neighbouring Carpetright store was also damaged.
At its height the blaze on May 1st was tackled by around 100 firefighters and sent plumes of thick black smoke high into the sky over the area.
Benny Dighton pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life and arson with intent to damage property when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court last month.
He also admitted another count of arson with intent to endanger life and one charge of attempted arson with intent to endanger life, in relation to a small fire at a B&Q store in nearby Larkfield on the same day and an incident in B&Q Maidstone on May 3rd, when staff found preparations for a fire.
Dighton, of no fixed abode, will be sentenced at the same court from 10.30am on Friday.
Retail news is updated every weekday and is provided courtesy of: 
