Psychotic man tried to start petrol station fire

MAX EVANS WARNED NOT TO ‘MUCK UP’ AS HE IS GIVEN SUSPENDED SENTENCE

- By CARL EVE

A MAN who admitted trying to start a serious fire at a petrol station has been told not to celebrate “by going out and doing a line of cocaine” after being given a suspended sentence.

Max Evans, aged 36, and of no fixed abode, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court after offering guilty please to the charge of attempted arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

His arrest followed an incident at the Esso fuel station on Wolseley Road, Plymouth at around 4am on Sunday, April 27.

Prosecutor Michael Brown said the station worker was on her night shift serving customers through the hatch when Evans appeared.

She later told police he appeared to be behaving “extremely erratically” and pacing around. He told her people had been chasing him. The worker refused to serve him whereupon Evans pulled out a lighter and said “please help me”.

He then picked up some barbecue lighter fluid and lit it before walking over to a petrol pump with his lighter still lit. Mr Brown said the station worker told police she feared for her safety of not just herself but also the other customers and called police who quickly attended.

An ambulance also attended as police were concerned the man’s behaviour was paranoid and erratic.

When paramedics attempted to engage with Evans he became suspicious as to whether they were really medical staff.

Mr Brown said at this point Evans picked up a petrol pump and swung it around, causing fuel residue to spill onto the floor. He then took the lighter and shouted “I’ve got a f**ing lighter - I’m going to go for it”.