A homeless man who set fire to a Norwich charity shop will be sent to prison for a significant period, a court has been told.
Darren Ince, 57, of no fixed address, has admitted arson with intent to endanger life and arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.
Emergency services were called to the British Red Cross shop in St Benedicts Street at 10.15pm on February 25 after reports of a fire.
READ MORE: Man arrested after fire at British Red Cross shop
No one was injured in the blaze but Norwich Crown Court was told the shop had suffered extensive damage and was forced to temporarily close.
Ince, who is on remand at HMP Norwich, was due to appear via video link to be sentenced .
However the court was told a pre-sentence report to assess his on-going future risk had not been completed.
READ MORE: British Red Cross shop remains closed after fire
Recorder Sasha Ackland said a lengthy period of imprisonment was “inevitable”.
But she added: “It is important for the court to have all the background especially considering the defendant’s complicated background.”
He will be sentenced on July 3.
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