Kerrick Thiel appeared via video link in Wagga Local Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to damaging property by fire, among a raft of other offences.

The Ashmont resident was living in a Bulolo Street apartment, through a lease organised by a not-for-profit group.

Facts tendered to the court show on July 17 this year, the 22-year-old man was picked up from his home by a support worker for a drive to Adelong.

During a conversation, Thiel started up a lighter in his jacket pockets, which caused his clothing to catch alight.

He extinguished the flames with his hand, and after the support worker requested he stop, he replied: "Well, I am just going to go home and burn my house down."

Thiel was dropped home a short time later after his companion tried calming him down.

About 2.15pm that same day a contracted handyman arrived at the property and noticed Thiel walking up the driveway towards the units.

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As the contractor was unloading his car, he heard a window shatter which caused him to look up, and he saw Thiel walking down the driveway before black smoke started billowing out of the unit.

The contractor ran towards the unit and noticed the living room floor was engulfed in flames and called emergency services while yelling for the neighbours to evacuate.

Police later spoke to Thiel, who admitted to using the lighter to start a fire in his own home.

Paramedics took him to Wagga Base Hospital for a mental health assessment, where he was determined to be in a coherent state of mind and released to police.

In sentencing, Magistrate Christopher Halburd acknowledged that Thiel had been diagnosed with an intellectual disability and schizophrenia.

He added that the 22-year-old's "deprived upbringing" also needed to be taken into account.

Mr Halburd said, however, that a clear message needs to be sent and "if he puts other people at risk he's going to be dealt harshly with by the court".

"His criminal record does not entitle him to any leniency," he said.

"The defendant in the circumstances indicated to a worker, 'I am just going to go home and burn my house down', and he made good on the promise."

Mr Halburd handed down a total sentence of 15 months in jail starting from July 18 for damage property by fire, common assaults, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm, contravene AVO and taking and driving a conveyance without consent of owner charges.

Thiel's sentence was backdated and he will be eligible for parole from March 2021.