London riots: Man admits House of Fraser and Iceland burglaries

A man who denies starting a fire that destroyed a family-run furniture shop in Croydon during the London riots has admitted burgling two shops.

Gordon Edward Thompson pleaded guilty to burgling a branch of House of Fraser and an Iceland store on 8 August.

Thompson, 33, of Waddon Road, Croydon, denied committing violent disorder in Croydon and burgling Reeves Furniture Store on the same date.

Previously, he denied setting the furniture store ablaze on 8 August.

Thompson, who remains in custody, will stand trial for two counts of arson, violent disorder and burglary on 20 February.

Reeves Furniture Store was set up in 1867 and its current owner, Trevor Reeves, is the fifth generation of the family to run the business.

The 144-year-old furniture store has since been demolished.