Tagg (right) saw Dodd's partner as a love rival

Ruth Tagg sent a dead rat, along with six indecent photographs and 12 letters and cards, to Dodd's Merseyside home.

The mailings from Tagg, of Bristol, were opened by Dodd's partner Anne Jones, who the defendant saw as a love rival, Preston Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

Tagg, 34, pleaded guilty to harassing Miss Jones and arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered, when she appeared at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday.

She also admitted stalking Dodd, by attending several of his shows and sitting in prominent seats in the audience.

I am satisfied that all the evidence indicates [Tagg] remains a potential risk Mr Justice Morland

Dodd and Miss Jones both attended the court hearing in order to give evidence, but Tagg's guilty plea made that unneccessary.

The court heard mail sent by Tagg, of St John's Crescent, Bedminster, Bristol, was sent between July 2001 and May 2002.

It included t-shirts bearing offensive slogans directed at Miss Jones.

Tagg tried to torch Dodd's house by pushing burning rags through the letterbox on 11 October 11 2001, the court was told.

Dodd was not required to give evidence in court

The fire caused �11,000-worth of damage to the ground floor of the house in Knotty Ash, Liverpool.

Tagg knew Dodd and Miss Jones were not in the house at the time and a more serious charge of arson with intent to endanger life was dropped by prosecutors.

Remanding her in custody for psychiatric reports, Mr Justice Morland said: "I'm satisfied...it would not be practical for [the psychiatric] assessment to be carried out except when she is remanded in custody.

"I am satisfied that all the evidence indicates she remains a potential risk, certainly to Miss Jones, possibly to Mr Dodd and others."

The judge said he hoped Tagg's sentencing hearing would take place before Easter.