Man took petrol to Weston-super-Mare's Grand Pier and said he'd 'blow it sky high'

A former employee of the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare took a can of petrol to the attraction and said "I'm going to blow this place sky high".

Timothy Huford was intoxicated and suffering from mental health issues when he made the threat, Bristol Crown Court heard today (Monday, June 1).

As he was detained by the attraction's security staff, he reassured them he didn't intend to carry out the attack.

Hurford, 43, of Bransby Way in Weston-super-Mare, pleaded guilty to threatening to damage property during the incident on August 29 last year.

Judge Michael Longman handed him a two-year community order.

He told Hurford: "You turned up at the pier with a petrol can, threatening to destroy it.

"It's quite clear your mind was affected by your mental health.

"You were in acute crisis."

Hurford was told to undergo 20 days of rehabilitation.

Lucie Stoker, prosecuting via video link due to coronavirus lockdown, said: "Mr Hurford went to the pier area with a canister with petrol.

"He was making threats that he was going to blow up the pier.

"He said he was going to 'blow this place sky high'.

"He was [detained] by security, they knew him as he previously worked there.

"He was intoxicated at the time and they told him he was not to be there."

Hurford was still wearing his pier uniform, the court heard.

The pier was not closed as a result.

Derek Perry, defending via video link, said his client indicated at the scene he did not actually intend to carry out his threat.

Mr Perry said: "He is intelligent, reflective, insightful and easy to deal with.

"But mental health doesn't discriminate.

"The court can be confident there is as low a chance of a repeat as could possibly be expected, due to his support."