Psychopathic fire-raiser Jamie Bradshaw was today facing a life sentence for a trail of 13 arson attacks across Bradford.

Would-be fireman Bradshaw, 24, was branded "an extreme danger to the community as a whole" by a judge.

His counsel Sarah Barlow told Leeds Crown Court that Bradshaw suffered from a psychopathic personality disorder.

Bradshaw was convicted by a jury last month of starting 13 fires in the city, three of which endangered lives.

Yesterday Judge Sally Cahill QC told Bradshaw she was considering passing a life sentence.

The case was adjourned until Monday.

Bradshaw will also be sentenced for aggravated vehicle taking and driving while disqualified. Prosecutor Gordon Lakin said the defendant pleaded guilty to these offences at Bradford Crown Court in June last year. Sentence was adjourned until after the arson trial.

Mr Lakin told the court that Bradshaw took a £14,500 dumper truck from a building site in Mayo Avenue, Bradford, on September 23, 2003.

He told the security guard he had permission to do some work at the site.

Mr Lakin said Bradshaw got into the truck and drove it through the perimeter fence. It was later discovered on fire in Ripley Road.

Bradshaw was seen talking to firefighters at the blaze and later picked out on an identity parade.

Miss Barlow said that because of the nature of the arson attacks and a psychiatrist's view of Bradshaw's level of dangerousness she could not argue that a life sentence was not appropriate.

Miss Barlow said it was "a highly unusual case" because Bradshaw started so many fires over a considerable period of time.

During Bradshaw's arson trial the jury heard that he was arrested after setting fire to a bungalow where he was living in Donisthorpe, West Bowling, in March 2004.

Substantial damage was caused to the property where Bradshaw had been living with his wife and two children.

Bradshaw's landlord at the property, Hameed Abbasi, said Bradshaw had refused to move out and when told to go he had threatened to attack him with a sledgehammer and to burn the bungalow down.

During police interviews Bradshaw said he had wanted to be a fireman since he was a boy.

He had tried several times to join the fire service but was turned down.

He thought the reason he was rejected was because he had arthritis and could not read.