The man who set fire to a sex shop in Bath on the Lower Bristol Road last October has been told that he could be detained indefinitely in a psychiatric unit.
Neil Andersen, who lives in Bath, admitted to the offence which took place on Friday 21st October 2011.
At Bristol’s Crown Court he pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered. He had earlier denied the charges as we reported in an earlier article.
He is now due to be sentenced later this year in June after a psychiatric report has been prepared.
Andersen pleaded guilty to the case after the judge ordered a jury to acquit him of the more serious charge of arson with intent to endanger life.
The judge said Andersen could be made subject of a indefinite hospital order under the Mental Health Act.
Defence barrister James Bennett was told: “I make it clear to your client that I am considering a restriction order. I think it is almost inevitable.“
The jury was told how Anderson had thrown fuel around the premises, threw in a lit match and fled. A family living in the flat above was put at risk, the court heard.
The court heard Andersen had decided to set fire to the sex shop because he was “frustrated” with the owners.
It was decided by the judge that the attack was almost certainly pre-planned.
When arrested, Anderson told police: “My gripe is with the company that runs the shop, not the worker.
“I have a gripe about some of the DVDs they sell and produce and I have been receiving hassle from someone.“
After he changed his plea this week; the court was told Andersen had served a three-year jail sentence for affray and had also been sentenced to five years in jail for making threats to kill.
He also has previous convictions for stalking women.
The judge ordered a further psychiatric report and adjourned sentencing until 22 June.
