A FURIOUS father petrolbombed a police station to protest against the arrest of his two sons and his own antisocial behaviour order, a court heard yesterday.

Stephen Rowbotham is said to have hurled the makeshift incendiary device into the reception area of Hartlepool police station.

The midnight attack – branded reckless and dangerous by Jolyon Perks, prosecuting – was captured on security cameras and shown to Teesside Crown Court.

The jury saw Rowbotham approach the town centre station, wander and fidget around outside the sliding front door and then light the explosive and throw it inside.

Patricia Buck, who was sitting in the foyer, reacted with shock when the missile smashed against a set of automatic doors in front of the reception desk.

The jury of six men and six women heard that, luckily, the bomb did not go off.

Mr Perks said: “The prosecution say, simply, that it is hard to imagine a more reckless, you may well think dangerous, act than that, especially having regard to the fact the missile was launched with full force into a public area.

“Whether the device exploded or not or whether the defendant was aware of Patricia Buck’s presence is neither here nor there. It was a risk and he took that risk.

“The fact is he lit it and he threw it when it was lit.

“The consequences, had it ignited on impact, are horrific.

“In interview, he said he had been at home and became aware that his sons had been in trouble and he effectively said he had had enough of the police.

“This is somebody who took it upon himself to put others at grave risk.”

Rowbotham denies a charge of attempted arson, being reckless as to whether property would be destroyed or damaged and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

The jury heard that the 46- year-old, of Colwyn Road, Hartlepool, has admitted breaching his anti-social behaviour order by his actions that night, Wednesday, January 14.

The trial continues today.