A man told a court voices in his head told him to start a fire.
Tony Joyce, 44, said they had told him to start the small blaze in a Contact Housing flat complex in Trinity Street on June 11.
Schizophrenia sufferer Joyce was also in court for a public order offence committed on May 5 and failing to attend his initial court hearing on the cases on August 4.
Andy Wills, prosecuting, said Joyce, who lives in a flat in the Contact Housing building, told police he set alight a poster in a public hallway which then scorched a wall and a carpet.
They had gone to the complex due to unfounded reports of a burglary.
Mr Wills said the month before, he caused a disturbance outside Cafe Cali in the Piazza, which Joyce also admitted.
According to witness Gemma Wilson, he threw a metal chair from the cafe, which landed close to where she was sitting.
He then proceeded to knock over an advertising board with force and began swearing at the public near a clothes shop.
She tried to get him to calm down but said Joyce replied by saying he wanted her dead.
Mr Wills said when later questioned by police, he said he could not remember committing either offence but said he wanted whole human race dead and that he would make it happen.
Joyce’s defence, Zara Begum, said: “He was ill at the time of the offences.
“He was in Calderdale Royal Hospital on the previously listed court date, which is why he did not appear.
“Joyce has previously asked the police for help and is now on an intervention programme and on medication to help him.
“It has made a huge amount of difference to him since I last saw him.”
Brian Hughes, lead magistrate, said: “I don’t think custody would be appropriate.
“I would recommend a medium level probation order but this cannot be enforced.”
He will be formally sentenced on August 31 and has been granted unconditional bail.
