A TEENAGER deliberately set fire to her bedroom in a care hostel and fled the scene with her pet hamster because she didn't want it to die in the blaze.

The 16-year-old was found guilty of arson and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered at Cardiff Crown Court.

Prosecutor John Probert said the girl had been in the care of social services living at a hostel in Newport but she had behaved in a difficult manner and failed to co-operate.

On September 16 she started a fire in a garden shed using a flammable liquid, which was put out by staff.

Some time later she ignited paper in her bedroom, damaging furniture and flooring.

The hostel, said Mr Probert, was a mid-terrace property and could have endangered the lives of others.

She was arrested in Newport city centre within half an hour of the alarm being raised, with her hamster and produced a cigarette lighter and said "I used that for the fire".

She then went on to admit starting the two blazes saying she had done it to "test the staff on duty".

She told the police she had intended to "play tricks" on the staff.

The teen was not called to give evidence in the case and the jury took just ten minutes to convict her.

Sentence was adjourned for a psychiatric report and she was remanded in custody.