Jockeys died in 'revenge attack' at Malton flats

Peter Brown denies two charges of murder at Leeds Crown Court

A man set fire to a block of flats, killing two jockeys, in revenge for being refused entry to a house party, Leeds Crown Court has heard.

Jamie Kyne, 18, from County Galway, Irish Republic, and Jan Wilson, 19, from Forfar in Angus, died in the fire near Malton, North Yorkshire.

Peter Brown, 37, of Brotherton, North Yorkshire, denies two murder charges.

The court heard he "deliberately lit" a fire at the communal entrance to the flats on 5 September.

Mr Brown also denies two charges of manslaughter and one charge of arson with intent to endanger life.

It was alleged Mr Brown had been drinking when he started the fire, which the court heard had "raged" through the building.

'Filled with smoke'

Prosecutor Richard Mansell QC said: "He committed the offence out of revenge for what he perceived was a humiliation suffered at the hands of the occupants of a first-floor flat within the same block, who had insulted him and refused him entry to a house party just three hours or so earlier."

Mr Kyne and Miss Wilson were asleep in a top-floor flat when the fire took hold.

The jury heard Mr Brown had fallen out with some of the occupants of one of the flats in the Buckrose Court complex, where he also lived.

Mr Kyne and Ian Brennan, who was Miss Wilson's boyfriend, were the tenants of the top-floor flat.

The jockeys died in the fire at Buckrose Court

The court heard Mr Brown had been drinking in several pubs before the fire was started.

As he walked back into town he allegedly told one witness "you had better watch them as it will kick off later".

He returned to the complex where it is alleged he used an accelerant to start a fire.

The court heard many residents were forced to jump from windows or climb down a drainpipe as it took hold.

Miss Wilson was seen screaming at the window as the flat "quickly became filled with smoke".

Mr Manselll said: "We suggest the defendant, whilst intoxicated and feeling generally low, brooded during the two hours or so which he spent at public houses in the town .

"He lit the fire on his return to get back at the occupants of flat four, and possibly one or more of the visitors, who had earlier refused him entry to the party and insulted and humiliated him."

He said Mr Brown had made an attempt to break into the flat complex, and jurors would have to consider whether this was a genuine attempt by him to help others or was a " feigned performance" to cover his tracks.

The trial continues.