AN arsonist who attempted to set fire to a pub to endanger the life of the landlord may receive a community punishment instead of prison.

Sasha Bailey-Dean had already admitted arson with intent to endanger life against the landlord of the Cap 'n' Gown in Worcester and was due to be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court yesterday.

However, the case was adjourned until Friday to give the probation service time to assess the contents of a psychiatric report which has already been prepared.

Bailey-Dean, aged 37, of Somers Road, Worcester, admitted arson, which took place on September 10 this year, when she appeared on October 10.

When she committed the offence she had only recently come out of an inpatient facility in a hospital where she had been for two-and-a-half weeks.

Giles Nelson, prosecuting, said Bailey-Dean, who has emotionally unstable personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, had been at a mental health team meeting at Studdert Kennedy House where she told staff she 'wanted to burn the pub down' and said 'sorry for what I'm about to do', leaving before her assessment was complete.

At 11am the same morning, a shop owner saw Bailey-Dean pushing paper and tissue through the letter box.

Mr Nelson said: "That appears to have been interrupted by the postman arriving at the pub."

The landlord, Edward Marshall, who had been in bed watching television, came down the stairs to see a small pile of papers, matches and a lighter.

Although the papers were described as 'charred' the fire had not taken hold and limited damage was caused.

Bailey-Dean presented herself at the counter of Worcester Police Station and told officers what she had done, also telling them she had used lighter fluid.

She was arrested on suspicion of arson and gave a 'no comment' interview to police.

Jason Aris, defending, provided character references and told the judge that his client was due to have a surgical procedure on January 3 next year.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright said a psychiatrist had implied that, were Bailey-Dean given a community disposal, she would be able to continue her mental health treatment.

However, the probation service confirmed they had not yet had time to produce a recommendation based on the psychiatric report so the case was adjourned.

Judge Cartwight told the defendant before adjourning: "You're 37 and don't have any significant previous convictions. You certainly don't have any convictions for any violent offences previously." Judge Cartwright said 'no fire had taken hold' and that she had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to the most serious form of arson.

He said: "It is on any account a very unusual case. Ordinarily an offence like this results in a long prison sentence. But this is a truly exceptional case for various reasons. If it's possible for you to be dealt with in the community with an appropriate, restrictive mental health treatment requirement than I shall seriously consider such a disposal.

"You must not take anything I have said to be an indication or promise it won't be a custodial sentence."