Man caught by neighbour making petrol bombs after grass cutting row

A man was caught making 'petrol bombs' by his neighbour after a grass cutting row between them.

John Broadley, 43, was seen pouring petrol into beer bottles containing rags outside his home in Glasgow’s Pollok on June 20, 2023.

Broadley earlier had an argument with Helen Gillies who claimed she was hurt with a stone while he was cutting his grass.

Police later spotted the devices and Broadley stated that he made them for his own protection from Miss Gillies.

Broadley pled guilty to having possession or control of an explosive substance namely petrol under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that he was not making possessing or controlling said explosive substance for a lawful object.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that Miss Gillies was in her front garden with her son when she was hit with a stone on her chest

Miss Gillies looked up to see Broadley cutting the grass in his garden.

Miss Gillies shouted over to Broadley and claimed that the stone could have hurt her child.

A “minor verbal disagreement” took place between the pair and Miss Gillies returned home.

Prosecutor Alasdair Knox said: “Shortly after, Miss Gillies looked out of her living room window and observed Broadley in his garden.

“She saw that he was pouring liquid out of a green plastic petrol container into beer bottles and putting rags into them.

“She thought it looked like he was making petrol bombs.”

An “alarmed” Miss Gillies contacted the police and officers later attended Broadley’s home.

Mr Knox said: “They observed two beer bottles on the ground next to Broadley.

“They noted that the beer bottles had white fabric in the bottle necks and a plastic petrol canister sitting next to the bottles.

“He freely stated that the bottles had petrol in them and that they were for his protection due to being threated by his neighbour.”

Broadley was then arrested and replied: "I was threatened."

The liquid in the beer bottles were later analysed and found to contain petrol.

Solicitor advocate Darren Fleming, defending, told the sentencing that various neighbours had difficulties with the victim.

He said: “There was a verbal argument with this neighbour and threats were made to him by the neighbour.

“His reaction was to create this which was entirely inappropriate.

“He said he had no intention of using the devices and it was done to scare off any potential threats.

“Having these devices is extremely serious and need to be treated as such by the courts.”

Sheriff Brian Cameron tagged Broadley for eight months keeping him indoors between 7pm and 7am.

He also put Broadley under supervision for 12 months.

The sheriff said: “You recognise the serious nature of the offence and irrespective of the background with this neighbour, this must have been frightening for her.

“I am prepared to put your behaviour on this day down to drunken stupidity.”

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