A Victorian man has pleaded guilty to deliberately lighting a bushfire on the Far South Coast.
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Darren Arthur Haddrill, 33, appeared in Batemans Bay Local Court on Thursday, November 28, but did not apply for bail.
Haddrill was handcuffed and wearing prison greens after being arrested near the scene of a fire south of Eden on Wednesday, November 27.
Defence solicitor John Edmunds entered a guilty plea on Haddrill's behalf to one count of intentionally causing a fire and being reckless as to its spread.
Magistrate Doug Dick said it was not a matter he felt comfortable dealing with "today", and Haddrill would need to be "fully assessed".
Magistrate Dick said Haddrill had no ties to New South Wales "at all" and a "custodial sentence is nearly inevitable".
The case was adjourned to February 3 to give time for medical assessments while Haddrill was in custody.
"People who light fires often have some underlying issues we need to explore," Magistrate Dick said.
"The fact sheet has some unusual issues stated in there."
He accepted Haddrill's plea of guilty and admissions.