Man threatened to burn down nightclub because it didn't sell Red Bull

A man has been jailed after threatening to burn down a packed nightclub because it didn’t sell Red Bull.

Michael Day threw a petrol canister at a nightclub full of people before flicking a lighter and screaming “I'm going to burn every last one of you”.

The 38-year-old, of Mill Street, Wantage, Oxfordshire, was due to stand trial for the incident but later admitted attempted arson and two counts of making threats to kill.

Oxford Crown Court heard that he had turned up at the Shush nightclub in Wantage in April, despite being banned, and asked to buy a can of Red Bull.

But when staff gave him an alternative drink, explaining that they didn’t sell the brand, he became aggressive and was thrown out.

CCTV footage plays during his sentencing in court showed Day returning to the club carrying a 20-litre white plastic container partly filled with petrol.

As he got near to the club entrance he was seen throwing it towards the door then launched himself towards the entrance of the club.

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As petrol spilled on to the ground and over the clothing of some staff, Day was seen flicking a lighter and screaming threats, shouting : “I am going to burn every last one of you”.

There were 177 revellers inside the club that night, the court heard, who had to be evacuated as the smell of fumes wafted inside.

The court heard that Day couldn’t remember the incident. At the time of his arrest he told police he had drunk up to seven Corona bottles and had never intended to start a fire but wanted to “scare people”.

Describing the incident as “terrifying”, Judge Maria Lamb jailed Day for five years and two months.