A former director of a gentlemen’s club in Maidstone has admitted torching it.

James Pemble entered the plea to arson being reckless as to whether lives were endangered when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court by TV link with Elmley Prison, Sheerness.

The 42-year-old, of Lucks Lane, Paddock Wood, also admitted driving while disqualified and having no insurance. But he denied robbing a driver of a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van and will stand trial on that charge on March 21 next year.

Police and firefighters were called to Players Gentlemen’s Club in the High Street just after 1pm on Saturday, October 3.

Officers cordoned off the lower end of High Street near the Medway Bridge while two fires were put out inside – one upstairs and one near the front of the building.

Pemble, who was a director of Players (Maidstone) Limited, which was dissolved on September 8, was later arrested on a bridge over the M20 near Ashford.

The club is now run by his ex-wife Emma Louise Sexton. The porn star, turned-business woman, won a case to have the clubs licence renewed when she appeared before a council committee on Monday.