Former Rushden Town Council member Adrian Carman, 46, put three Calor gas canisters inside an oven at his home in Sartoris Road, Rushden, during an attempt on his life on January 10 this year.

When police arrived at the house Carman was not there but they smelled gas and discovered the oven's switch was partially on, although the gas was not.

Yesterday, at Northampton Crown Court, Carman admitted the offence.

Defending, Andel Singh, said: "My client knows this is not the time for mitigation to be put forward but he wants to say he had no intention of killing anyone but himself."

Two days before the incident, police had seen Carman stab himself with a pair of scissors and the court heard doctors at Woodhill Prison, where he is in custody, have raised concerns about his mental health.

At a previous hearing at the court in April, Judge Richard Bray said: "This is a really, really serious thing. He was risking his life and others. He had neighbours on either side of his terraced property."

During yesterday's hearing, Judge Charles Wide QC asked for reports to be prepared to show how dangerous Carman's actions could have been before sentencing on July 10.

Judge Wide criticised the police for not having already provided the information.

He said: "Time after time, there are arson cases in this county and the Crown Prosecution Service and the police don't place before the courts sufficient evidence of the actual danger which is caused."

In response, a police spokesman said: "We work very closely with our Criminal Justice colleagues to bring offenders to justice and we will discuss this issue with the Crown Prosecution Service to see if any further action needs to be taken."