A schoolboy yesterday admitted killing a former locksmith who died after a firework was pushed through his door as a prank.
Arthur Lonsdale, 52, was trapped in the terraced house in Westerham Close, Witherwack, Sunderland, as flames and smoke engulfed the property.
The divorced father-of-two who lived alone was found collapsed in the hallway behind the front door and later died in hospital, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
Experts found the fire had been caused by a rocket which had been put through the cat-flap in the door, setting paper and other material alight.
A 16-year-old youth admitted manslaughter when he appeared before the court yesterday when he was due to stand trial.
The boy, aged 15 at the time of the fire and of previous good character, was further remanded on bail with conditions including electronic tagging after sentence was adjourned until September for reports. He was warned by Judge David Hodson the "overwhelming likelihood" was he would be sent to custody.
Brian Forster, QC, prosecuting, said the case was brought against the teenager on the basis he was part of a group responsible for putting the firework through the cat flap.
But he said it could not be proved which of the group actually pushed the firework - known as a Little Brother rocket - through the door.
He said there had been a problem with fireworks being available to youths on the Witherwack estate in the weeks leading up to Guy Fawkes night.
Mr Forster said unemployed Mr Lonsdale was described as a "happy-go-lucky person who was very sociable and kind and would do anything for anyone."
He had a love of cats and provided a refuge for strays at his home. A number of cats were found dead in his house after the fire.
Mr Lonsdale, who is thought to have been asleep on the sofa when the fire began, was found collapsed behind the front door which had to be smashed open with specialist equipment.
