A RIOTER smashed his way into House of Reeves furniture store during the Croydon riots before starting a blaze that razed the building to the ground, a court heard today.

Gordon Thompson, 33, allegedly grabbed a laptop from the furniture store before using a lighter to set fire to a sofa in the window display.

The ensuing blaze was so fierce it spread to properties on the opposite side of the road, sending nearby residents fleeing for their lives, the Old Bailey heard.

Thompson's attack last August 8 came just minutes after he had looted other neighbouring stores, stealing designer goods and bottles of drink, jurors heard.

His actions destroyed one of Croydon's oldest stores and put those fighting the fire in "real danger", said prosecutor Oliver Glasgow.

"He watched others start to smash the glass in order to force their way in through the doors and windows of the furniture shop," Mr Glasgow said.

"As soon as the glass was broken he ripped the glass from its housing and he was one of the first to enter the premises.

"He stole a laptop and on leaving the store he asked another of the rioters for a lighter.

"As soon as he was given one he went back to the shop and set fire to a sofa inside the store window.

"The ensuing fire razed the building to the ground. Such was the ferocity of the blaze that embers and heat from the flames set fire to property on the other side of the road and numerous residents were forced to flee their homes."

Shortly before he targeted the Reeves Corner store, Thompson had also been part of a mob that targeted Iceland in nearby Surrey Street and the House of Fraser store in Centrale.

The painter and decorator was caught on camera by Croydon Advertiser reporter Gareth Davies and a freelance photographer clutching bottles he had stolen from the supermarket and helped others prise open the security shutters at the department store, enabling would-be burglars to make their way inside.

Mr Glasgow said: "Once out of sight of the cameras he, like the others who had broken in, ran amok and left with armfuls of goods he had stolen for himself.

"After leaving the store he stood at the top of the stairs pointing out the direction of the broken entrance and encouraging others to loot the store."

Thompson, of Waddon Road, Croydon, has already admitted looting the Iceland and House of Fraser Stores, jurors were told.

He denies violent disorder and burglary at House of Reeves, as well as alternative charges of arson with intent to endanger life and arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

House of Reeves was founded in Croydon in 1867 and had survived two world wars before it was reduced to ashes. The street on which it stood was named after the family business.

On Tuesday morning a man was arrested for allegedly attempting to steal lead from the business' remaining building.

The trial continues.