A HOMELESS man who started a blaze at the Brighton Centre after being turned away from the night shelter there has been jailed for 20 months.

Ian Drummond started a fire at the venue when it was packed with rough sleepers after being denied entry by a security guard.

The 48-year-old lit wooden pallets and a pile of rubbish in a loading area, just metres from a full gas cylinder, causing staff to fear for their lives.

Judge Christine Laing said it was of great concern that Drummond had tried to start the blaze at the popular convert venue after he previously set fire to a children’s centre.

The court heard Drummond had gone to the Brighton Centre looking for a place to sleep before the fire at 3.30am on December 16 2017.

After being turned away by a guard he went to the rear of the centre, where gas bottles, wooden pallets and rubbish were stored in a loading area.

Prosecuting, Jonathan Edwards, told the court: “He obtained a large toll of paper towels and placed it next to rubbish and a pallet, next to a forklift truck, and set it on fire.

“Close to the fire were large bottles of gas which were confirmed empty by scene of crime officers, but according to staff there was a full gas cylinder two metres away.

“It caused significant fear for the staff inside who knew.”

CCTV showed Drummond picking up the paper towel, before lighting it and then walking away.

The blaze was described as significant by the time firefighters attended and extinguished the fire.

The court heard none of the staff or rough sleepers inside at the time were injured and there was no damage to the structure of the building.

Drummond was arrested on December 16 after being spotted walking past, by staff who recognised him from CCTV.

In interview he denied any knowledge of the fire and denied going to the Brighton Centre.

But after being shown the footage, he said the fire was a result of him discarding a cigarette and it was an accident.

Defending, Tom Nicholson Pratt, said arson was not premeditated.

He told the court: “Homelessness had been the case for some time now, and consumption of alcohol has not been controlled either.”

Drummond was previously sentenced in October 2017 to a community order for starting a fire in a wheelie bin outside a children’s centre in Colchester.

Drummond, of Wimpole Road, Colchester, Essex, plead guilty to arson.

Sentencing Judge Laing said: “The fact of greatest concern to the court is that you committed a similar offence for which you were on a community order when you did this one.

“You need to think long and hard about the future. It seems to me should you commit any similar offence to this, the next court will consider extended sentences, as they might assume you’re a danger to the public.”

Drummond was sentenced to 20 months in prison.