A CONVICTED killer who set fire to a Bradford hotel and a shop in the Broadway Centre has been labelled a public danger and jailed for life.

The 110 offences on Richard Lister’s criminal record included manslaughter in 1999 when he was imprisoned for five years, Bradford Crown Court was told today.

Lister, 63, must now serve four years and eight months behind bars before he can even be considered for parole.

Judge Andrew Hatton said Lister, who uses a wheelchair after suffering a stroke, posed a serious danger to the public and only a life sentence was appropriate.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A custody picture of arsonist Richard Lister, who has been jailed for life A custody picture of arsonist Richard Lister, who has been jailed for life (Image: Police)

His criminal record for threats to kill and numerous assaults, dating from 1971, now in-cludes reckless arson at The Park Hotel in Manningham and setting fire to a display stand at W H Smith in The Broadway.

Prosecutor Eleanor Durdy said Lister was living in adult social accommodation at the hotel when he threw a lighted cigarette into the bin in his room.

He had been there just four days when he started the fire at 2.20pm on November 14 last year.

He then confronted the manager, saying: “I’m going to burn the f***ing hotel down.”

Miss Durdy said the blaze was spotted by another resident who put it out with an extin-guisher. It did £1,000 damage and put vulnerable people at risk, the court heard.

Two days later, Lister set fire to ribbons in W H Smith at 9.30am, telling staff: “Your product’s on fire.”

Fortunately, they had spotted the smoke and it was dealt with promptly.

Lister was in breach of a suspended prison sentence for assault on an emergency worker when he started the fires.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The Park Hotel was among the targets for Lister's arson attacks The Park Hotel was among the targets for Lister's arson attacks (Image: T&A)

He pleaded guilty to reckless arson at the hotel and simple arson in the store.

His barrister, Christopher Styles, said he did not have a propensity to set fires. He was genuinely remorseful and understood the risk he had posed at the hotel.

He committed serious criminal offences when he was younger but had stayed out of trouble for 12 years until last year’s assault.

He was in chronic pain daily and had fallen back into taking heroin. He threw the light-ed cigarette into the bin out of frustration.

Judge Hatton sentenced Lister on a link to HMP Leeds where he was remanded.

He said he was a dangerous offender within the meaning of the legislation who posed a risk of serious harm to members of the public.

He would only be freed from prison when and if The Parole Board deemed it safe to do so.