A man accused of torching a removal firm in Sutton Valence was a former employee, a court heard.

Martin Mborah, of no fixed address, appeared in the dock at Maidstone Magistrates Court on Friday, facing charges of arson and sending threatening messages.

He is accused of deliberately starting a fire at Rectory Farm, off Sutton Road, on January 28 last year.

A van, a lorry and a storage unit were set alight.

They belonged to Weald Removals, which rents part of the site, and were being used to store possessions belonging to a family moving house.

Some £18,000 of damage is understood to have been caused in the blaze, which sparked a huge response from removal companies across the country, offering to help business owner Luke Petty.

At the time of the fire he said: “I’ve had so many offers to help, even one guy offered to come down from Scotland, these companies have really come into their own.

“It’s like a big family, if someone’s had some bad luck, everyone is there ready to help each other out.

“Ultimately, people have still got to move house - if I don’t turn up with a vehicle, the whole chain collapses and it would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.”

Outlining the prosecution’s case, Kristy Harkett, told the court: “This is between a former employee and former employer.

“They parted company on January 28.”

Mborah did not enter a plea and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and nationality.

He is expected to deny the charges when he next appears at Maidstone Crown Court on January 31.

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