THIS is the face of a teenager who carried out a potentially deadly petrol attack on a Southampton pub.

Detectives released the computer-generated image today in a bid to catch the youth who put lives at risk at Weston's Sun Inn.

Witnesses saw a bare-chested teenager creeping towards the pub before throwing a bucket of petrol through an open window on a busy Sunday night.

Police said the attack could have had catastrophic effects had customers not been outside enjoying the sunny evening.

Today Detective Constable Mike Zacharias, of Bitterne CID, said: "This was a horrendously dangerous and extremely stupid thing to do.

"If it had ignited, it could easily have caused serious injury to anyone in the pub as well as the person throwing the petrol."

DC Zacharias revealed the attacker had been barefoot at the time of the incident at 7.20pm on August 1.

He said this could have meant the youth lived locally - or he had taken off expensive trainers or other footwear to protect them from petrol.

Either way the attacker was splashed with petrol as he pitched the fuel through the window.

"We know there was splash-back from the petrol so whoever was responsible would have returned home stinking," said DC Zacharias.

The petrol attack happened just days after landlord Alan Alexander had his van wrecked by vandals. Mr Alexander, 44, who lives above the pub, said he had suffered a two-year hate campaign but vowed not to be driven out of the premises.

Police said the petrol attacker was white, aged about 17, with short blond hair, wearing black shorts and a white baseball cap.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Bitterne CID on 01703 335444 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.

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