A TENANT in a home of multiple occupation has admitted deliberately starting a fire which put the life of another resident at risk.

Daniel McKee began the blaze in his bedsit-type room, in a housing association run-home, in Coxhoe, near Durham, on April 21, last year.

He is understood to have placed lighters in the oven, which was then switched on. He had already blocked the door with a mattress.

The alarm was raised, however, and the fire had not long taken hold when the room was entered.

McKee was found unconscious, but was revived.

Appearing at a hearing at Durham Crown Court, in March, the 37-year-old defendant, by then living in Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent, was said to have possible fitness to plead issues.

Following psychiatric assessment he was considered fit enough to be able to put in a plea, and he denied arson with intent to endanger life, but admitted simple arson, at a hearing, last month.

A trial date was set for the week of September 16.

But the case came back to court for a further plea hearing at which McKee admitted an amended charge of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, to which McKee pleaded guilty.

Mr Baker said McKee has, “significant psychiatric difficulties”, and asked for a background probation service report to be compiled.

Judge Sarah Mallett adjourned for preparation of the report, to assess the defendant’s “dangerousness”.

He was remanded in custody until the sentencing hearing, on July 5.