Hollely (25), of Northwood Avenue, had denied igniting a blaze at the Oval pub, on the Carsic estate, but was found guilty by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court last Wednesday.

The pub had closed its doors on New Years Eve 2007 and was being looked after by Leanne Hobson and Lisa Ellis who had been living upstairs.

Leanne told the court that the pair had left for work at around 9.45am on 3rd January and the upstairs bathroom window was locked.

She later received a call at 3.15pm saying that the pub was on fire and at the scene she spoke to someone she new as Fred – who she later confirmed as the defendant.

He apparently said to her: "You have got to buy new belongings tomorrow."

Lisa told the court: "I was crying and shaking because I had lost my home."

Two other witnesses, Michelle Lord and Janet Fitcher, who work at the Shires Nursing Home nearby, said they saw a youth on the flat roof of the pub as they were having a cigarette outside but they could not see his face.

Police officers investigating the scene found that the bathroom window had been broken from the outside and the defendant's fingerprints were on the wall.

He had originally stood trial in July but the jury was discharged for legal reasons.
During the re-trial Hollely did not give evidence and answered 'no comment' throughout his police interview.

He is due to be sentenced on 3rd October and the case was adjourned for further reports.