A bungling would-be petrol bomber who was caught by police after he ran into a lamp post and needed medical treatment was jailed for eight years today.
Amir Ali (28), and another unidentified man attempted to petrol bomb the Imperial pub in Broadfield, Crawley, West Sussex, in the early hours of May 28th, 2008, a spokeswoman for Sussex Police said.
Ali threw two bricks, breaking a window, while the other man threw the petrol bomb, which accidentally hit Ali and burst into flames.
The flames died away almost immediately, but in his panic he ran straight into a lamp post and hit his head, the spokeswoman added. He then went to the Crawley walk-in medical centre for treatment to his head injury and was linked to the attack by police.
Ali, of Ridge Road, north London, denied the offence, but forensic and CCTV evidence helped bring him to justice.
He was found guilty of attempting to without lawful excuse, damage by fire the pub in August before being sentenced at Hove Crown Court today.
Police are still seeking the identity of the man who attacked the pub with Ali.
PA