A BRADFORD police officer has been praised by a judge for rescuing a woman with mental health problems after she set fire to her flat.

PC Martin Junni doused the flames when schizophrenic Michelle Diamond set light to her home in Bank House, Barkerend Road, Bradford, on March 28.

He was yesterday publicly commended by Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC who told Bradford Crown Court: "He acted immediately, professionally and bravely."

Diamond, 32, was sentenced to a Hospital Order with a restriction after she pleaded guilty to reckless arson at her supported accommodation.

Prosecutor Mark Brookes said she made a series of early morning calls to the emergency services and threatened to set her flat alight.

PC Junni arrived to find flames two feet high coming from the settee.

Diamond, who was in another room, told him: "I want to move flats."

She was holding a pink cigarette lighter.

She later told officers she was in a trance and had not slept for three days.

Mr Brookes said Diamond was held in prison until July 15 when she was transferred to hospital.

The court was told a bed was immediately available at Bradford's Cygnet Hospital.

Diamond was suffering from a chronic schizophrenic illness and had a history of fire raising.

Judge Durham Hall made a Hospital Order under the Mental Health Act.

He told Diamond she started the blaze when she was very poorly.

"You have been frank about why you did it; open and honest. I hope you do as well as I am sure you want to," he added.