Man threw petrol bomb at police outside Aldi

Wiatrowski was caught on CCTV attempting to fill a drinking bottle with petrol

A man who threw a petrol bomb at police before pointing an imitation firearm towards them has been found guilty of attempting to cause an explosion with intent to endanger life.

David Wiatrowski, 36, used a hammer to smash the windows of an Aldi store in Boston, Lincolnshire, on New Year's Day, before confronting officers who arrived to arrest him.

Wiatrowski, of Bradford Road, Boston, previously admitted possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, affray and criminal damage at a hearing in February.

He was convicted by a jury at Lincoln Crown Court on Wednesday following a three-day trial and is due to be sentenced on 2 October.

Lincolnshire Police said that at the time of the incident, Wiatrowski had what appeared to be a firearm in a holster on his right hip.

He shouted to officers to get back in their vehicle as he lit a rag in a bottle and threw it towards them, before making a motion with the gun as if he were cocking it.

Wiatrowski fled, but was arrested on 10 January after a member of the public responded to an appeal.

Wiatrowski carried out a "calculated" and "senseless" act, according to police

According to police, Wiatrowski had no apparent motive for his actions, but told officers he was bored with life and wanted to make a Molotov cocktail – a type of petrol bomb.

Officers found CCTV footage of him attempting to fill a drinking bottle with petrol as part of his plan.

When questioned about why he had thrown the petrol bomb and pointed the gun, he said he wanted to scare the officers, "to think they were going to die".

He also told police he had no intention of entering the store, on Queen Street, after smashing the windows.

Det Insp Melissa Rooke said: "This was a calculated and entirely senseless act, carried out with blatant disregard for the impact it would have.

"It's no surprise that those who responded to this incident were profoundly affected by what they encountered. Our officers faced an individual whose clear objective was to instil fear and potentially inflict serious harm."

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