Man denies causing fire in flat above Llanelli town centre cafe

A 24-YEAR-OLD Llanelli man has appeared before court charged with arson at a town centre flat.

Gavin Leigh Phillips is accused of starting a fire in a flat above the Willow Cafe in Station Road on Wednesday, August 29, a court heard.

Philips appeared at Llanelli Magistrates Court yesterday where he was refused bail.

He remained silent throughout much of the proceedings, and was represented by solicitor Richard Morgan.

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He did not make a plea during the short hearing. Phillips's court appearance comes after Mustafa Kagan Hakman, the owner of the cafe, and a regular customer of his, leapt into action when they heard fire alarms coming from the empty flat above the cafe.

They used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames before firefighters from Mid and West Fire and Rescue Service arrived.

"It was just logic on our part to help out in a time of crisis as it would have affected us as well," said Mr Hakman earlier this week. "There was no damage, luckily, just the attic room caught fire," he added.

Police evacuated the cafe when they arrived on the scene and also closed the road for a time, causing delays for many motorists.

Mary Smith, who works at the Willow Cafe, said at the time: "I feel sorry for one of the policemen, he had just come in for his breakfast and then he was called next door."

Phillips will now appear before Swansea crown court on Friday, September 7 after magistrates declined jurisdiction in the case.

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