A man who carried out a "campaign of arson" against his family has been jailed indefinitely.
Omar Mohammed Suleman (29), started multiple blazes at the homes and workplaces of his relatives, and made hoax fire calls.
Following a six-week trial, which ended in October, the 29-year-old was convicted of 11 offences, but his motive remained a mystery.
However, reports read out during his sentencing at Leicester Crown Court yesterday provided "the missing piece of the jigsaw", Judge Simon Hammond said.
A psychiatric report said Suleman was suffering from a narcissistic personality disorder and craved attention and admiration.
A pre-sentence report by probation officers said he was fascinated with fire and enjoyed a feeling of power.
Judge Hammond sentenced him indefinitely for public protection, which means he will only be released when he is no longer considered dangerous.
Judge Hammond said: "The defendant appeared to be playing a game with his family, the fire and rescue services and the police."
The court heard that at one stage Suleman's family were so frightened by the incidents they all slept downstairs, with the defendant, before he was arrested and charged.
Judge Hammond said: "I have real sympathy with the defendant's family and hope they read the psychiatric report and find some closure."
The judge said he had read 28 references speaking highly of Suleman, who was of previous good character.
More than 50 relatives and friends of the defendant, who was described as a highly thought of member of a respectable family, attended yesterday's hearing to support him.
Defence barrister, Edward Henry, said: "There's no desire by the family that he be punished. The wider community are here to protest silently on the defendant's behalf.
"They fervently believe in his innocence and support him still. The offences weren't out of revenge or financial gain and no-one was hurt."
Suleman, of The Fairway, Oadby, had denied the allegations and was acquitted of one arson offence. The delay in sentencing was due to a psychiatric investigation, which concluded that, although he had a personality disorder, he did not need hospital treatment.
The court heard Suleman started some fires when his relatives were at home, including one when police were present investigating an earlier arson.
There were 26 separate fires caused in and around Leicester, at or near addresses allegedly linked to the defendant, from 2007 to 2009, although he was only prosecuted in relation to incidents in 2009.
One of the fires was started at the family workplace, the Vista Building, in St Matthews Way, Leicester, owned by his father, Mohammed Suleman, and uncle, Hussein Suleman, who is also a city councillor.
He was also convicted of arson at his uncle's already fire-damaged home, in Stoughton Drive South, Oadby, which gutted the upstairs and made the building unsafe.
Hussein Suleman gave evidence in court saying he did not think his nephew was responsible for the fires. The defence claimed vagrants or squatters could have set fire to Coun Suleman's unoccupied home.
Another fire, which caused minor damage, was started at the Dunlop Building, in Evington Valley Road, where the family firm had relocated.
Suleman also set fire to his uncle's car. He was also convicted of two arsons, recklessly endangering lives, at his own home, and one of damage to his garden shed.
Judge Hammond praised PC Mary Gracey and DC Jeremy Pollard for their work on a "long and complicated inquiry". He ordered that Suleman only be allowed to apply for a review of his sentence after serving at least six years.
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