A MAN accused of deliberately setting fire to his pregnant girlfriend’s home has appeared in court.

Plasterer William Angus, 28, of no fixed address, admitted one count of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

More than 50 people were forced to flee their homes as flames raged through a top-floor maisonette of a house in Basildon’s Craylands Estate on June 29.

The blaze caused approximately £50,000 of damage.

At an earlier hearing Ian Allen, prosecuting, said Angus was in a relationship with pregnant Abby Hockwood, who lived at the now destroyed flat on Craylands.

The court was told the fire service received a number of calls at about 1.35am.

Crews from Basildon and Rayleigh Weir fire stations rushed to the block of eight flats, where they spent two hours tackling the flames.

Angus admitted the count of arson when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court.

He reappeared for the Crown Prosecution Service to formally accept his plea.

Angus’s case was adjourned for sentence until Monday, January 13 while the probation service prepares reports.

Angus was remanded in custody.