A MAN will spend Christmas in jail after he admitted an arson attack at a Malvern flat.

Edward Corbyn appeared over videolink from HMP Hewell at Worcester Crown Court on Monday, pleading guilty to the attack at a flat in Worcester Road, Malvern on October 18 this year.

The 37-year-old of no fixed abode admitted 'arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered'.

By his admission he accepted setting the fire with 'intent to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property was destroyed or damaged'.

As part of the same offence he also accepted he was 'reckless as to whether the life of others would be endangered'.

Jason Aris, defending, asked the case to be adjourned for a psychiatric report to be prepared which he said would take six weeks. No application was made for bail.

Recorder John Steel QC asked if there was any information regarding a delay in obtaining psychiatric reports, saying there was 'quite a backlog'.

However, Mr Aris said he did not anticipate any difficulties in getting the report. The judge also ordered an addendum pre-sentence report after Mr Aris said his client had already had had one prepared two days before he was sentenced for common assault at the magistrates court. This report, dating from October, will therefore be updated ahead of the sentencing hearing.

Recorder Steel said of the arson: "It's a very serious offence."

He added: "I have read about the case. It's one of those things which no doubt will have to be dealt with sensitively by the sentencing judge."

The Recorder told Corbyn it was in his best interests to co-operate in the preparation of the reports.

He said Corbyn had been drunk at the time he committed the arson and was 'having difficulties in relation to the sentence you were having to deal with at the time'.

He told the defendant: "You will have to remain in custody over Christmas."

Corbyn will be sentenced on January 17 next year.