AN expert witness at the trial of a Ledbury licensee has said admissions she made about burning down her pub are "unreliable".

Forensic scientist Dr Ronald Denny said Janet Kaye's admissions to her boyfriend and three police officers cannot be relied on as she was "heavily intoxicated" at the time.

Hereford Crown Court had earlier heard how Kaye, who denies arson, had probably drunk around three bottles of wine before The Seven Stars burned down in the early hours of Sunday, July 22, last year.

She had already told the court she remembered very little about the events of the fire, which damaged nearby properties and caused around £1m damage.

Dr Denny said 43-year-old Kaye would have been around three times over the drink-drive limit when she said to her boyfriend "I did it, I don't care" as they watched the Homend pub burn.

"It would have been unreliable because she was heavily intoxicated," he said.

Strong views

"I hold very strong views on this, as I deal with many drink-driving cases, and I have frequently criticised police for interviewing people when they are intoxicated.

"I have argued the statements have been unreliable as a result of intoxication at much lower levels than this."

Dr Denny told the court Kaye may also have been affected by a sleeping tablet she had taken earlier in the day which would have affected her memory and made her more confused.

He added, as a heavy binge drinker, Kaye may also have suffered from Korsakoff's Syndrome, where sufferers added things into conversation for the sake of saying them.

Under cross-examination from William Rickarby, prosecuting, Dr Denny admitted Kaye's body weight had never officially been taken, and calculations on how much alcohol was in her system were made on a weight given by Kaye herself.

He also admitted Kaye had changed her mind about the time she had taken her sleeping tablet.

The case continues.