A 24-year old Hartpury woman has been bailed to await sentence after she admitted starting a fire in a hotel room in Quedgeley.

Teresa Butler, of Gloucester Road, Hartpury, pleaded guilty to arson being reckless whether life was endangered by setting fire to room 49 at the Orchard hotel in October 2015.

At an earlier hearing she had denied the charge but admitted it today after her defence lawyer asked for it to be put to her again.

The charge states that she damaged furniture, fixtures and fittings while being reckless whether life was endangered.

Recorder Shamin Qureshi agreed to a defence application for an adjournment for psychiatric, medical and pre-sentence reports on Butler.

The court heard she is already subject to a suspended jail term for an earlier offence.

She is also currently being treated for depression, the court was told.

Recorder Qureshi asked for a note to be put on the court file that when Butler is sentenced the judge dealing with her should formally commend the bravery of a witness, Ryan Jones, who was injured tackling the fire.

The Recorder told Butler she will be sentenced on a date to be fixed.