Jamie Taylor, 34, admitted throwing three Molotov cocktails at police vans parked outside the station in May last year
A British Army veteran has been sentenced for attacking a police station with petrol bombs. Jamie Taylor, aged 34, admitted two charges relating to explosive substances and endangering life, and culpable and wilful conduct.
A court heard he suffers from complex post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Helmand province in Afghanistan.
Taylor, who has 11 previous convictions, went by taxi to Livingston Police Station in West Lothian in May 2025. He had with him four vodka bottles filled with petrol. He lit one of the bottles and threw it at five marked police vans parked outside the station. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
He then threw another explosive, which prompted PC Kirsty Forsyth to run to extinguish the fire it had caused. Taylor then lit a third petrol bomb and threw it, causing flames which went above PC Forsyth’s head, the High Court in Stirling was told.
Taylor pleaded guilty in November and was sentenced on Tuesday, January 13, reports The Mirror.
He admitted one charge of causing an explosion of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious damage to property, and another charge of “culpably and recklessly” throwing a petrol bomb towards PC Forsyth.
Judge Lady Ross sentenced Taylor to three years and six months in prison, with a 12-month supervision order imposed.
She told him: “Even though you were not aiming at her, you put PC Forsyth’s life in danger. This was obviously dangerous and criminally stupid… You had a sense of grievance against police to do with another individual.
“The police is not a faceless organisation, it is made up of responsible people who run towards danger.”
She added: “You were a soldier for eight years and experienced serious trauma. You have complex PTSD. You understand what you did was wrong. You have made progress in prison and have the support of your mother.
“The seriousness of offending means there is no alternative to custody. It is very plain you need help, you need supervision and sustained care.”
In mitigation, Iain McSporran KC said Taylor did not know PC Forsyth and her colleague were present, and that it was not an assault or a “targeted attack”.
He said Taylor had “self-discharged from the Army after his last tour of Afghanistan”, and while serving had seen “a close friend dying” from an explosive device.
Mr McSporran added: “He (Taylor) has a criminal record, he has served his country, and suffered the consequences of serving his country.
“His life came crashing down when he was about to move in with his partner. He lost that as result of his criminal record and he also lost his job.
“He thinks he might have been expecting police would kill him. He has been vague about his motivations.
“This was a reaction about police informing his partner, I think he will have to accept this was motivation or provocation for his behaviour.” He added: “Were it not for his mental health issues, this offence would never have happened.”
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