Keighley firebomber Mohammed Khalid made a brief appearance at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old father-of-five has been on remand at Doncaster prison since he was convicted four months ago of starting the £2.5 million Netto supermarket blaze and planting other incendiary devices at various locations in Keighley.

He was due to be sentenced this week by Judge Gerald Coles QC, but the court heard that further psychiatric reports still had to be done.

Defence counsel Tahir Khan said two psychiatric reports on Khalid both suggested he should be transferred to Rampton Special Hospital for assessment. But the court could not order his transfer until he had been seen by a doctor from Rampton who would advise the hospital's admissions panel about his suitability for assessment.

Adjourning the case, and remanding Khalid in custody, Judge Coles directed that someone from Rampton should visit him at the prison as soon as possible.

Khalid, of Otterburn Street, Keighley, was found guilty last December of arson with intent to endanger life and 12 offences of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life. During his trial, the jury was told that bomb disposal experts helped collect forensic evidence linking him to the incendiary devices, planted between November 1995 and November 1996. The court was shown how fireworks, batteries, petrol, matches and a modified alarm clock were used to make the devices.

Khalid has written to the Keighley News from his prison cell, insisting that he is innocent.

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