Homebase Arsonist put in Jail
The man that started a fire at a Homebase store in Kent has been put in jail. Benny Dighton, age 28, set the building on fire on May 1, destroying the store at South Aylesford Retail Park. However, this isn’t the only arson that he has committed, as the court also heard that he set a B&Q store on fire the same day as the Homebase store, as well as tried to start another fire at another B&Q on May 3.
The Homebase arson lasted for almost 42 hours and then spread to Carpetright. This saw about 80 shoppers and the staff running from the flames. There were about 17 fire engines, 90 firefighters and many support vehicles needed at the peak of the fire. Witnesses say that the thick plumes of smoke were lifted 50 feet into the air. The damage has cost the company £8 million, and luckily no one was hurt.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service manager John Robertson said that anyone who saw the incident can confirm that this was a ferocious fire that needed the use of equipment and crews from across the country. Detective Inspector Ian Rogerson said that nobody being killed in the incident is a miracle. The disruption to customers and the damage to the stores was significant, he added.
Dighton was caught as the arsonist through CCTV footage, which showed him entering all 3 of the stores. They were able to arrest him on May 3, and on July 9 he admitted to 1 charge of attempted arson with intent to endanger life and 2 charges of arson with intent to endanger life. The sentence has just been recently passed down, and he will serve a minimum of 4 years.