Man jailed for throwing petrol bombs at Huntingdon police station

Voldemaras Rimasauskas admitted arson with intent to endanger life

An arsonist who hurled petrol bombs at a manned police station has been jailed.

Voldemaras Rimasauskas, 31, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after he attacked Huntingdon police station in December 2022.

Staff and others inside the building during the attack "feared for their lives", Huntingdon Crown Court heard.

Rimasauskas admitted arson with intent to endanger life at the court on Thursday.

Addressing the court, Chief Constable Nick Dean said: "Officers and staff undertake policing duties in the full knowledge that when on patrol they may face danger.

"What they do not expect is that their personal safety should be compromised when they are within the confines of their physical place of work.

"It should be remembered that police officers and staff are people, they are fathers, mothers, sons and daughters.

"When they are attacked they become victims just like any other, but victims who have been attacked while trying to protect others."

An old DNA sample from Rimasauskas matched socks left at the scene

After the attack, officers found the remains of socks, believed to have been used as wicks to light the bombs.

Police visited local shops and petrol stations to find CCTV footage which might show people buying the items used to make the bombs.

They identified Rimasauskas, of no fixed address, as having bought the socks and fuel within days of each other.

An old DNA sample from Rimasauskas, taken by a different force years ago, was compared to the socks left at the scene.

This gave police their match.

The bombs fell short of the window but caused significant scorch damage outside

Det Insp Gordon Blair said: "At the time of the incident there were several officers within the building and arrested people in the cells.

"Three officers were in the rear office where the attack occurred and genuinely feared for their lives as the blazing bottles came hurtling towards the station.

"If one of the petrol bombs had made it through the window, the whole station could have gone up in flames.

"Getting to court has taken months of hard work, dedication and detective work and I am glad justice has been done.

"I hope Rimasauskas has time to reflect on his reckless actions, which could have resulted in tragedy."