Man jailed after arson attempt over missing shower gel

A man who ignited his lighter after pouring diesel fuel outside the door of his housemate's room has been jailed. Garry Wilson, 29, from Lincoln, wanted to scare his two Polish housemates after his shower gel went missing from the communal bathroom they all shared.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Wilson had no idea if the fuel he used to make the threat at the property in Claremont Street was either petrol or diesel. Wilson admitted a charge of threatening to damage or destroy property. He was sentenced to eight months.



The court heard one of Wilson's housemates was woken during the middle of the night on 23 December by the sound of him outside his bedroom door. Wilson then sparked his lighter but was quickly bundled to the floor by his other housemate.

Police later attended the property and found the can containing diesel by Wilson's bed. Judge Sean Morris told him he could easily have been facing a murder charge if it had been petrol in the jerry can instead of diesel.