Arsonist throws home-made petrol bombs at Doncaster home

David Cheeseman tried to throw the "bombs" through the upstairs window of a terraced house on Belmont Street, where an elderly person was asleep, prosecutor Andrew Smith told Sheffield Crown Court.

CCTV showed Cheeseman's car parked in the street before the attack and he went away to assemble the bombs before returning to throw them on June 8, 2018.

A witness said fire was visible, but the devices quickly fizzled out, the court heard.

Four knives were later discovered in the car, which was originally yellow and had been "amateurishly" painted black.

"Multiple people were endangered," Mr Smith said.

Cheeseman also approached a 27-week pregnant woman who was washing her car, while her seven-year-old daughter sat in the back, on May 28, 2018.

He told her: "Get the kid out of the car," then asked her: "How do you get this f****** thing into reverse?"

He drove off with the boot open and the car was later recovered, but it was "an insurance write-off."

In a statement, the single mum-of-three said the theft caused her to lose work and suffer financial hardship. She said she was stressed and sleepless, and she still owes £3,000 on the car's finance plan.

A day later he approached another woman who was parked in a lay-by and said: "I wish I had a car. Give me your f****** car-keys."

Cheeseman fled when she threatened him with her dogs. He was picked out in an identity parade.

The court heard he was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison for criminal damage and common assault, in June 2011. In December 2011 he received 16 weeks for dangerous driving while drunk, and hismost recent conviction was for being drunk and disorderly in August 2013.

Dernot Hughes, mitigating, said the attack was "plainly serious but hamfisted".

"If he wanted to set the house on fire one might have thought he would put it through the letter box," he said. "He threw two devices generally at the house."

It was "speculative" to call it a "genuine effort," Mr Hughes added.

Experts were unable to determine what Cheeseman used in the "petrol bombs" and they were extinguished with a cup of water.

Cheeseman, 32, of Central Drive, Rawmarsh, Rotherham, denied arson with intent to endanger life, possession of the blades, robbery and attempted robbery, but was convicted by a jury.

On Friday, judge Rachael Harrison told him: "It is a most concerning offence. There is no explanation from the owner or his tenant why the property was targeted.

"I have considered whether a life sentence is appropriate.This was planned and executed and could have had fatal consequences.

"You continued to deny it in the face of overwhelming evidence."

She gave him an extended sentence of 18 years and ruled he will have to serve two thirds before he is eligible for parole.