A man suspected of torching his partner's car and her block of flats has appeared in court.
Paul Varron, 38, of New Malden, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court yesterday charged with the arson of Nikky Haughton's flat and BMW in Rowan Court, off Coombe Lane in Raynes Park, on Bank Holiday Monday.
He was also charged with assaulting Ms Haughton on the same day at The Rotunda in Kingston Town Centre.
Mr Varron is being remanded in custody and will appear next at Kingston Crown Court on August 11 where he will be asked to enter a plea.
The incident caused major disruption to traffic in Raynes Park between Wimbledon and New Malden as emergency services, including 20 firefighters, put out the blaze in the car park and the first-floor flat.
Seven people were immediately rescued but 12 residents in total had to be housed in temporary accommodation because of the fire and smoke damage caused to the building block.
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