THE rioter who started the fire that destroyed House of Reeves furniture store in Croydon during the riots faces years behind after he dramatically changed his plea during the trial.

Gordon Thompson, 33, grabbed a laptop from the historic furniture store in 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.

A photograph of a young woman leaping from the window of one of those properties to safety into the arms of rescuers below became one of the most iconic images of last summer's London riots.

Monika Konczyk, 32, who featured in the famous photograph, had been due to give live evidence as part of the case, having filmed Thompson outside the furniture store just minutes before she was forced to leap to safety.

But Thompson, who had denied arson, changed his plea to admit two of the four charges he faced.

He started the fire on August 8 just minutes after he looted other neighbouring stores and boasted to one witness later the same evening: "It was me - I did that. I burned Reeves Furniture."

Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow said those pleas were enough to 'properly reflect the criminality' of Thompson's behaviour and it would not be in the interests of justice to proceed with the remaining charges.

Judge Peter Thornton QC ordered jurors to return not guilty verdicts on the remaining counts.

House of Reeves manager Trevor Reeves, 56, and his father Maurice were in court to see Thompson change his pleas today.

The court had been told he would claim he was trying to stop the other rioters looting the store when it went up in flames.

The father-of-two's actions destroyed one of Croydon's oldest stores and put those fighting the fire in 'real danger', jurors had been told.

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

"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.

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."

Bus drivers later saw Thompson tipping petrol into the street and trying to set it on fire.

After his raids on the supermarket and the department store, which he had already admitted prior to his trial, Thompson headed with other members of the mob towards Reeves Corner, where he torched the furniture store in an act of 'cynical cowardice'.

In the minutes before the blaze was started, witnesses overheard him asking 'Who's got a lighter?' and yelling: "Let's torch the place."

Mr Glasgow said: "Quite what it was that first attracted looters to these premises may remain a mystery since, unlike House of Fraser, which was plundered of clothing and jewellery, few of the rioters could have wanted to steal a sofa.

"It seems the attention this shop received started when one of the mob threw a piece of debris at one of the glass windows.

"Thereafter others, including this defendant, joined in until the window was smashed, torn from its housing, and the rioters managed to get inside."

Thompson was one of the first to enter the shop and emerged carrying a laptop, causing the crowd to surge forward in search of other valuable goods.

"That, however, was not an end to the matter. Having vandalised and looted the store, the defendant was still not satisfied," said Mr Glasgow.

"In an act of cynical cowardice he went back inside the shop and set fire to one of the sofas inside the window.

"The effect, as anyone would realise and as he plainly intended, was catastrophic.

"The sofa went up in flames, as did other pieces of furniture in the showroom and within minutes the inferno was raging out of control.

"The defendant stayed at the scene to watch what he had done before the heat and flames drove he and others away."

The 'devastating' heat of blaze set fire to neighbouring properties and even the tramlines in the street caught fire.

Firefighters were powerless to act and all that remained of the store were the supporting walls and a pile of smoldering rubble.

"House of Reeves simply ceased to exist," added Mr Glasgow.

Trevor Reeves was in the crowd as his store burned, but was unable to identify any of the rioters he saw, the court was told.

Another witness, Jonathan Davis, who lives nearby, saw Thompson jogging towards him and boasting: "It was me, I did that, I burned Reeves Corner."

Thompson was arrested after his picture appeared on the front page of the Croydon Advertiser and he was recognised by a reader.

He claimed he had seen the same edition and was planning to turn himself in.

Thompson, of Waddon Road, Croydon, admitted burglary and arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and will be sentenced on April 11.

The prosecution offered no evidence in respect of an alternative charge of arson with intent to endanger life and a further count of violent disorder.

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

Mr Glasgow said: "As a result of the fire, the damage initially estimated to the House of Reeves is just over £1m.

"The damage occasioned to House of Fraser is just over £105,000. That's loss of property stolen, as well as damage to a shutter and plate glass window.

"As a result of the fire, the overhead tram lines and the tramlines themselves suffered serious damage and the costs to Transport for London in repairing that were just under £330,000."

Judge Peter Thornton QC told Thompson: "I'm going to adjourn in this case for sentence to April 11.

"I have ordered a pre-sentence report to consider the question of risk.

"Whatever the outcome of that risk assessment, you are facing a long prison sentence and you will be remanded in custody."

If he is ruled to be a 'dangerous' offender at his sentencing, Thompson could be jailed indefinitely.

Speaking to the Croydon Advertiser from outside the Old Bailey, Graham Reeves said: "It's all over, which is a massive relief.

"I think the police have done a great job to get enough evidence.

"It’s been very hard. It was a terrible crime but now we want to get on with our lives.

"We need to move forward and have a better society."

Thompson pleaded guilty to burglary and arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

The judge ordered jurors to return not guilty verdicts on arson with intent to endanger life and violent disorder.

He will be sentenced on April 11.