Pub row petrol bomb attacker jailed

A man who hurled a petrol bomb at another man, setting him on fire, then squirted bleach at people in a bar has been jailed.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Carl Wild, 34, had been refused entry to Peggy Junes in Redcar on 15 February before he carried out acts of "appalling violence".

Wild was captured on CCTV setting a petrol bomb alight in the street and throwing it at the victim, who was engulfed in flames and suffered 20% burns to his body. Wild then squirted bleach at drinkers in the bar.

Jailing him for 13 and a half years, Judge Francis Laird said it was ''a determined act of revenge", while the court heard how he had "terrified customers who thought they were being doused with petrol".

Carl Wild carried out "a determined act of revenge", the judge said

Wild threatened the owner of the bar in Queen Street, saying he would "burn the place down and kill you and your kids", when he and his girlfriend Simone Reed were refused entry, the court heard.

The couple then went to a garage and bought petrol, cloths, bleach and glass bottles before returning to the bar to carry out the attack.

Wild set the petrol bomb alight in the middle of the street and threw it at a man's head. He was "simply standing outside the bar", police said.

The victim dropped down and rolled on the ground while another man pulled his top off and helped put the fire out.

Simone Reed was jailed for two years and eight months for assisting in the "heinous crime", police said

CCTV showed how Wild then squirted bleach at the victim before storming inside the bar.

The court heard he then squirted more bleach at customers who thought they were being doused with petrol. Two other people suffered serious injuries.

There was ''a stampede'' as people raced to the exit, fearing they were about to be set alight.

Police said the victim "suffered lasting effects from the trauma", adding it was "very frightening" for bar staff and "people who were just enjoying a night out".

Police said Wild carried out "appalling violence" at Peggy Junes bar

Cleveland Police described it as a ''heinous crime'' and said the level of ''appalling violence'' terrified many innocent people who had been enjoying a night out.

Judge Francis Laird told Wild it was ''a determined act of revenge after you perceived you had been disrespected".

Wild, of Redcar, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and aggravated burglary and was jailed for 13 years and six months.

He was told he would serve five years on extended licence.

Reed, 36, of Stockton-on-Tees, was jailed for two years and eight months for assisting in the commission of an offence.