A MAN is facing jail after he was found guilty of petrol-bombing a police station after his two sons were arrested.

Stephen Rowbotham claimed the crude home-made device had been constructed so it would not catch fire or explode.

He told a jury at Teesside Crown Court that he simply wanted to make a protest against the police for victimising his family.

Rowbotham, 46, accepted hurling the device into the foyer of Hartlepool police station just after midnight on January 14.

But he denied attempted arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, claiming he had taken precautions to prevent damage.

The jury took just 45 minutes this afternoon to return a unanimous verdict, and Rowbotham will be sentenced in July.

Judge Brian Forster, QC, told Rowbotham, of Colwyn Road, Hartlepool: "Clearly, only a custodial sentence can be passed."

The court heard after the verdict that Rowbotham has 45 offences on his criminal record, the most recent last September.

He was given an anti-social behaviour order by magistrates that month, and told police he was angry about being targeted.

The jury heard that the bomb did not go off, but prosecutor Jolyon Perks said: "That was more by good luck than good judgement, on his part."

He told the court: "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."

Mr Perks added: "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."

A pre-sentence report and a psychiatric report will be prepared before Rowbotham is sentenced.