Man receives community order for pouring petrol at filling station

Daniel Flood, 44, of Athol Gardens, Ovenden, has been issued a community order following an incident where he poured petrol from a pump onto a filling station forecourt. CCTV footage from July at the Tesco Esso Express in Ovenden, near Halifax, showed Mr. Flood taking a pump, activating its trigger, and dispensing petrol. Bradford Crown Court was informed that Flood, who experiences severe intellectual issues along with drug and alcohol problems, initially departed the scene. Staff subsequently covered the spilled petrol with sand. However, he reappeared shortly thereafter with a lighter. Flood pleaded guilty to attempted arson and received a two-year community order. As part of his sentence, he is required to complete 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a nine-month alcohol treatment plan. Prosecutor Gerald Hendron stated that Mr. Flood had previously been prohibited from the Tesco store due to abusive conduct towards employees. Nevertheless, on July 7, staff observed Flood, who appeared unsteady, and proceeded to disable the pump. This action occurred only after “an appreciable quantity of petrol” had already been spilled. Mr. Hendron noted that another individual attempted to convince Flood to release the pump, but he persisted in trying to dispense additional petrol. The staff members remained inside the building, and Flood eventually departed, only to reappear with a lighter. He then left the location again and was subsequently apprehended close to his residence. Saf Salam, a solicitor advocate representing Flood, indicated that a psychological assessment corroborated his client’s intellectual challenges, and the defendant had acknowledged his culpability from the beginning. Mr. Salam further mentioned that Flood had refrained from drugs and alcohol for the preceding five months and had implemented beneficial alterations in his life. Recorder Patrick Palmer commented that had Flood ignited the petrol, it was possible someone could have died. He characterized the offense as serious, yet he emphasized Flood’s difficulties and the ongoing support he had been receiving for his alcohol and drug issues from others since the event.