The woman who shopped the House of Reeves arsonist to police has spoken for the first time of her delight at his guilty plea.

The Croydon Council officer, who does not want to be named, spotted Gordon Thompson in Surrey Street Market just five days after he started the fire which destroyed the 150-year-old furniture store.

Describing the moment she laid eyes on the 33-year-old, the officer said: "It was about 8.40am on the Saturday morning, he was walking through the market on his own. He was very, very casual and had a smile on his face as he was swaggering through.

"He was looking around and just seemed very comfortable with himself."

Recognising him from among photographs of looters, the officer contacted the council's CCTV room instructing them to follow him on the cameras and to call the police.

She then followed him at a distance through the market towards Crown Hill, before confronting him.

She said: "I knew the police were on their way, so I just tried to keep him in the area.

"I decided to engage him in conversation but I soon realised he was quite comfortable and wasn't going anywhere.

"I said "Do you realise you are on the front of a local paper?" he said "Oh f*ck it they know where I am, if they want me they can find me."

"Having seen him walking through I wasn't surprised when he spoke like that. I think he thought it was a game; he wasn't hiding at all there was no concern, he seemed very comfortable."

Within minutes the police had arrived and Thompson, of Waddon Road, was in the back of a police car.

The council worker continued: "When the police arrived he was very calm, the impression I got was it was probably better for him to come out and be arrested on the street than at home. Brazen is really the only word I can use to describe him."

When she called the police after spotting the man photographed in the distinctive red jumper, never did she suspect he was guilty of such a heinous crime.

The image of House of Reeves burning to the ground was beamed across the world and became an iconic image of the August riots.

Last week Thompson was told to expect a substantial prison sentence which the council officer hopes will prompt him to explain his actions.

She said: "I would like to have an hour with him and ask him why, why did you do it? When you set out that night what were you thinking, you are a Croydon man.

"The least he could do is try and offer some explanation so we can work from this and try and understand his mindset.

"I had cut out his photo and put it in my pocket just in case; I was hoping I would find him.

"I feel very loyal to Croydon so I was very pleased but shocked to see him out so early on.

"I just thought he was a looter and I was shocked to find out that not only had he looted but that he had committed the arson, I was devastated for the Reeves family.

"Now I am even more elated that he is behind bars."