Man guilty of making Molotov cocktails in Southampton car park

Thomas Platt, 34, was seen "acting suspiciously" in a communal bin area in Millbrook Road East before pulling out two brown glass bottles.

He and his friend then made the cocktails using petrol from a canister at the back of a silver Ford Fiesta.

Platt, of Shirley Park Road, Southampton denied making the items as well as having them in his possession for illegal purposes.

But following a two-day trial at Southampton Crown Court, the jury delivered a guilty verdict on the charge of producing the items. 

READ MORE: Man made petrol bombs in Southampton car park, trial told

Platt previously told jurors he had made the petrol bombs with the aim of starting a bonfire at his home. 

But prosecuting, Aleks Lloyd questioned why he chose to make the items at Millbrook Road East, rather than going home first. 

Millbrook Road East. (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Lloyd went on to accuse Platt of losing his temper after he was seen arguing prior to the incident. 

But Platt said: "I had a lot of issues going on at that time.

"I should have done this at home really but me and my pal thought it would be a good idea to fill bottles with petrol and take them home to do a bonfire.

"My decision-making was a big incoherent due to the fact my addiction was rife at that time."

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His father John, who had turned up at the car park "to reason" with his son, said Platt, who works as a carpenter, would often start fires because the pandemic meant they couldn’t take the waste to the tip.

He added that these blazes would be started with “anything at hand” and that Platt had petrol in his car due to a broken fuel gauge.

Platt has been bailed and will next appear in court on July 12 for sentencing.