TWO men will be sentenced tomorrow for an arson attack, in which they poured petrol through the letterbox of an Ilfracombe flat.

Mark Bartlett, 27, of the High Street, and Sebastian Whitehead, 29, of Wilder Road, both in Ilfracombe, appeared in custody before Exeter Crown Court last Friday.

At an earlier hearing, they both pleaded guilty to arson and being reckless as to whether life was endangered at a flat in Harbourside, Capstone Crescent, on May 13.

Their sentencing date was announced at their latest court appearance.

The hearing was also to discuss dropping an alternative, more serious charge of arson with intent to endanger life.

Prosecutor David Sapiecha said the guilty plea to the lesser charge was acceptable to the Crown Prosecution Service and a decision about how to dispose of the more serious one would be made at sentencing.

He said pre-sentence reports were ready but the case needed to be adjourned to give the defendants' barristers time to arrange to represent them.

Bartlett is represented by Richard Crabb and Whitehead by Gareth Evans.

Recorder Jeremy Wright remanded both men in custody.

The charge that the pair have admitted states that the flat belonged to Claire Dunne and the offence was caused intending to destroy or damage such property, or being reckless as to whether it would be.

It adds that the offence was also reckless as to whether the life of William Harris and other residents would thereby be endangered.

Miss Dunne and her partner Mr Harris were left homeless by the blaze and later told the Journal how grateful they were to the community which rallied round to help them find temporary accommodation and to replace many of their lost belongings.

They were also especially grateful to fire crews for rescuing their dog Donut, who was still inside the flat when the fire took hold

At an earlier hearing, defence counsel Richard Crabb, representing Bartlett, said: "He's never been in this sort of trouble before. It's a long story, through drink, petrol, pouring it through the letterbox or around it and making a poor job of it because it blows back and burns them but causes some damage.

"They say they shouted through the letter box but the occupants were not in the flat. They have to accept they couldn't guard against someone being in the flat, neighbours or firemen."