Petrol bomb man jailed for 11 years

A Rochdale man drove to Sheffield intent on throwing a petrol bomb at a house.

Father of three Amar Ajmal, of Marland Hill, has been jailed for 11 years after he drove to the Arbourthorne area of the city to try and burn down a family home using a petrol-filled alcopop bottle.

Rebecca Ray, Ashley Eyre and two children only escaped harm because the device failed to ignite.

Ajmal used another petrol bomb to torch a van owned by one of Mr Eyre's friends, who lived nearby.

The attacks occurred during the evening of 22 October 2007.

Initially Ajmal denied the crimes but admitted one count of attempted arson with intent to endanger life and one count of arson causing criminal damage just before his trial.