Peter Phillips had denied being responsible for the fires at victim Andrew Walsh's home, making threats to carry out similar attacks and intimidating a witness in the case.

But on the day he was to stand trial his solicitor Nick Devine asked for the charges to be put again.

Phillips, 39, of Montgomery Drive, Rugby, then entered guilty pleas to all six offences.

The court heard that on Bonfire Night last year he had set fire to the door of Mr Walsh's home in Cawston, near Rugby, being reckless whether lives would be endangered.

During December Phillips made threats to destroy or damage property by telling Darren White that he would pour petrol over the shed and fence at Mr. Walsh's home and set light to it.

And on New Years Eve he carried out his threat by setting fire to the shed and a fence panel at the rear of the house.

His campaign of vengeance against his former boss continued in January when he made a threat to Robert Thomas that he was going to petrol bomb Mr. Walsh's house and shed.

And six days later Phillips carried out another arson attack on the garden shed.

A month later he attempted to intimidate Mr. Thomas, knowing he was a witness in the case, by threatening him: "If you've made the statement, you're dead."

Phillips had previously worked for Rugby Borough Council, where Mr. Walsh was his boss, as a recycling carrier.

And during an earlier preliminary hearing. the court was told that the motive for the arson attacks was that he believed Mr. Walsh was responsible for his dismissal.

At Mr. Devine's request the case was adjourned for pre-sentence and psychiatric reports to be prepared on Phillips, who was remanded in custody by Judge Trevor Faber.