MAIDSTONE: A 27-year-old man has been sentenced for starting a fire in a Homebase store in Kent when it was full of shoppers.

Benny Dighton, 28, 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 and has received an indeterminate sentence for public protection with a minimum term of four years.

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 3, when staff found preparations for a fire.

No one was injured in the incident at South Aylesford Retail Park in Aylesford that destroyed the store and extensively damaged a neighbouring Carpetright store. Around 100 fire fighters tackled the blaze on 1 May.