A Portsmouth man has been jailed for 45 months after attempting to start a fire using petrol hoses at an ASDA filling station.
Police were called to the petrol station on Somers Road North at around 11.30pm on Monday, 18 May, following reports that a man was trying to start a fire.
Officers attended and found a man standing over a length of material which was on fire.
Police said he was shaking a petrol nozzle over the flames.
When he saw the officers, the man attempted to flee but was stopped and arrested in Coberg Street.
Kieran Dromnes, 33, of Fyning Street, Portsmouth, was subsequently charged with attempted arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered, and criminal damage to property valued at under £5,000.
He pleaded guilty to both offences.
Dromnes appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on Thursday, 27 August, where he was sentenced to 45 months in prison.
PC Beth Jones, of the Eastern Criminal Investigations Team, said: “I am pleased to see Dromnes face jail time for his reckless and dangerous behaviour, which could have easily resulted in tragedy had he not been stopped when he was.
“Arson is an incredibly serious offence, and I am glad that Dromnes is being punished accordingly. I hope that in prison he has plenty of time to reflect on his actions and appreciate just how deadly the consequences could have been.”
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