Boston man who threw petrol bomb and pointed fake gun at police jailed

A man who launched a petrol bomb and cocked a fake gun at police on New Year’s Day has today been jailed for five years and eight months.

David Wiatrowski, from Bradford Road in Boston, was found guilty of attempting to cause an explosion with intent to endanger life or seriously damage property after a three-day trial in July.

The 36-year-old was arrested at home on January 10, telling officers he was ‘bored of life, feeling depressed’ following the dramatic series of incidents that began with him smashing the window of Aldi in Queen Street.

He was also caught on CCTV filling a drinks bottle with petrol on a garage forecourt, which he later threw at a police officer responding to the Aldi call-out.

However, the glass of the Molotov cocktail did not break, prompting Wiatrowski to pull out his imitation gun and order the police back inside their cars.

He then walked towards one of the cars, cocking his weapon, with the officers reversing away and Wiatrowski escaping towards Friars Gate.

Following sentencing at Lincoln Crown Court, Detective Constable Jamie McCormack from Boston CID said: “I would like to thank the many teams involved in this investigation across Lincolnshire Police, and regionally, which led to the identification and arrest of Wiatrowski.

“Above all else, I would like to thank the attending officers that day who responded swiftly and selflessly to protect the public.

“Their actions highlight the essential role our police play in keeping our communities safe and secure.

“Their dedication, especially in difficult circumstances, reflects the deep commitment to service and protecting the public.”

Speaking after the jury returned its unanimous guilty verdict, Detective Inspector Melissa Rooke said: “This was a calculated and entirely senseless act, carried out with blatant disregard for the impact it would have.

"It’s no surprise that those who responded to this incident were profoundly affected by what they encountered.

“Our officers faced an individual whose clear objective was to instil fear and potentially inflict serious harm.

“They responded with enormous bravery – continuing to fulfil their duties before their armed response colleagues arrived and they were directed to leave the scene.

"The actions of these officers stand as a powerful reminder of the vital role our officers play in safeguarding the public and preserving order, even under the most challenging of circumstances."