'Drunken Scotsman's' revenge quest sparked fire

Brown had been refused entry to a party in the flats on the night of the fire

When Peter Brown was turned away from a party at a North Yorkshire block of flats, no-one could have imagined the catastrophic results.

Apprentice jockeys Jamie Kyne and Jan Wilson were the victims of a drunken "revenge" arson attack by Brown, who was determined to punish those in the complex for snubbing him.

On Thursday, Brown, from Brotherton but originally from the Aberdeen area, was convicted of the manslaughter of the jockeys but cleared of their murder. He was also acquitted of arson with intent to endanger life.

As the fire spread through the building, occupants were forced to escape by jumping from windows and climb down drainpipes.

Tragically, Miss Wilson and Mr Kyne were unable to get out.

Amid the confusion with the dazed and the injured, a barefoot Brown stood outside, hugging one of the flat's occupants.

Brown told him: "We will find out who did this, it will be all right".

His attempts that night to break into the burning building could have been perceived as that of a brave man wanting to save those still trapped inside.

'Feigned performance'

But a different picture was painted by prosecutors, who said it was nothing more than a "feigned performance", orchestrated to cover his own tracks.

The 37-year-old, who described himself to police as a "drunken Scotsman" had previously acted as a caretaker at the Buckrose Court complex, which he had helped to build.

The fire quickly took hold as the stairwell acted like a chimney

He moved into the block after splitting up with his wife in 2006.

During his trial, the court heard the father-of-one had alcohol problems and had been experiencing difficulties in his personal life.

He had fallen out with the occupants of flat four in the complex, and on the night of 5 September he was told he was not welcome at a house party there.

Humiliated and brooding, Brown stormed from the scene to nearby pubs.

Several hours later, fuelled by alcohol and reeling from the events of the evening he returned to Buckrose Court where he started the fire.

Det Chf Insp Alan Carey said: "The weight of evidence presented by the investigation team pointed to only one outcome: that Peter Brown was guilty of causing the deaths of Jamie Kyne and Jan Wilson on that terrible Saturday morning.

"I can only hope that today's verdict will offer a small source of comfort to both Jamie's and Jan's loved ones. But nothing can ever bring them back.

"What I do know is that their memories will live on forever.

"The overwhelming support and sympathy from within the racing world, where Jamie and Jan were very much viewed as rising stars, will guarantee their legacy."