Man jailed for possessing petrol bombs near Plaistow police station
Plaistow police station - Credit: Archant
A man has been sentenced to five years in prison for possessing petrol bombs near a police station during the 2011 London riots.
Itzaz Akhtar, 23, of Piper Way, Ilford was one of four men seen acting suspiciously at the rear of Plaistow Police Station on August 9 during the disturbances which hit the capital.
Officers from Newham police chased after the men who dropped a number of glass bottles containing petrol and newspaper wicks.
Four petrol bombs were found intact in addition to a quantity of smashed glass and petrol.
Akhtar was convicted by a jury at Wood Green Crown Court of possession of an offensive weapon on December 21 but the jury failed to reach a verdict on a charge of having an article with intent to destroy or damage property.
He was convicted of the second charge at the court on May 22.
On Friday, he was sentenced to five years for the second charge, and three years for the first, to be served concurrently.
