Pub owner guilty of arson death

Mr Drury's body was found under the wreckage of the staircase

A pub landlord has been convicted of killing his accomplice when he carried out an arson attack on his own premises to try to clear large debts.

Keith Willoughby, 53, was convicted of arson and manslaughter at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday.

Taxi driver Derek Drury, 40, was killed when petrol fumes exploded at the Old Locomotive pub in Canterbury.

He had gone with Willoughby, from Canterbury, to set light to the disused premises on 18 August 2002, the court heard.

Green belt

The landlord had amassed debts of almost £250,000, with about £200,000 owed to a building society and £47,000 to a brewery, the court heard.

The jury was told he had been trying to sell the site for housing but was unable to obtain planning permission because it was on green belt land.

The court was told heard how fumes from the petrol poured by the pair around the premises built up, resulting in the explosion.

Mr Drury's body was found two days later in the rubble where the staircase had been.

When interviewed, the landlord told police he had been at the premises checking for squatters with Mr Drury when the explosion happened.

Willoughby was remanded in custody and is expected to be sentenced on 12 January.