by Angela Cole

acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

A man has admitted starting a fire which caused more than £8 million worth of damage to a DIY store.

Benny Dighton, 28, of Chelmar Road, Chatham, has appeared at Maidstone Crown Court, charged with attempted arson to cause damage and endanger life at the B&Q store in Maidstone on May 3.

But, shortly before appearing in court, he had also been charged with two other counts, including arson with intent to endanger life at the Homebase store in Aylesford on May 1, and at B&Q in Larkfield the same day.

The fire at Aylesford had destroyed the building, and clouds of smoke could be seen from miles around.

He pleaded guilty to all three charges.

The court heard that alert passers-by who had heard about the Aylesford fire two days before had raised the alarm when they saw him pouring accelerant over wood in the store in Maidstone on May 3.

He was spotted on CCTV and one of his fingerprints was also found on the can of accelerant.

Judge Jeremy Carey told Dighton: "Be in no doubt at all, you are in a very grave position. This is a case of the highest seriousness."

He was remanded in custody for psychiatric reports and pre-sentence reports until August 27 when he will be sentenced.