AN arsonist is today awaiting sentencing at crown court after pleading guilty to setting light to a flat above a nightclub.

colin.adwent@eveningstar.co.uk>

AN arsonist is today awaiting sentencing at crown court after pleading guilty to setting light to a flat above a nightclub.

Kim Eccott admitted deliberately starting the fire in the premises above Jokers nightclub in Stowmarket when she appeared before magistrates in Bury St Edmunds.

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to destroying property belonging to the manager of Jokers, Mark Naylor, and also items owned by his son Jason.

She also admitted damaging property belonging to another man, Richard Roper.

All the pleas related to the blaze at 111-115 Ipswich Street, which occurred on March 9.

Eccott, of Avenue Road, Wallington, Surrey was arrested last month.

She was released on bail before returning to Bury St Edmunds police station where she was charged two weeks ago.

Mr Naylor, 47, and his son shared the flat which was set alight.

The fire gutted two bedrooms, a bathroom and the roof space, leaving the pair temporarily homeless.

It broke out around 2.30pm and took 30 firefighters to prevent it spreading to the adjoining nightclub or the two floors below.

Mark Naylor had to be given oxygen after he rushed into the building on hearing what had happened.

Jason Naylor, a DJ in the nightclub on Saturdays, said precious photographs of his mother who died from cancer were among items which had gone up in flames.

A pair of bearded dragon lizards in a glass box managed to survive the blaze.

Firefighters from Stowmarket, Elmswell, Debenham, Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich were sent to the scene to extinguish the flames.

Eccott's case will now go to Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing at a later date.

She was released by magistrates on unconditional bail until that hearing.