Man who set fire to police officer in ‘ wicked, deliberate’ act jailed

A MAN who doused two police officers with petrol before setting fire to one of them in a “wicked” attack has been jailed for more than 10 years.

Blagovest Hadjigueorguiev, 30, had been camping on Duchy of Cornwall land in Newquay without permission for months and refused to leave despite being served with eviction notices. Devon and Cornwall Police officers were called to assist with removing Hadjigueorguiev and his belongings from the field, next to a school, on September 11.

Truro Crown Court was told Hadjigueorguiev picked up a cider bottle containing petrol and threw it at two officers, Pc Darral

Mares and Pc Alan Lenton. He then threw the remainder of the petrol onto his camp fire – causing flames to “explode” over Pc Mares, 51.

Judge Robert Linford described how Hadjigueorguiev had threatened to set the officers on fire, which he repeated as the officers came towards him.

Hadjigueorguiev admitted charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Pc Mares and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to Pc Lenton.

“As constables Mares and Lenton approached you, you threw a bottle of petrol over them,” the judge told Hadjigueorguiev.

“As you did so, Pc Mares was set on fire. It was a sickening thing to see and hear him burnt.

“He tried to extinguish the flames that in particular burnt his hands and his legs.

“It was a wicked, deliberate and extremely violent act, directed at a man who had previously tried to help you.”

The judge jailed Hadjigueorguiev for 10 years and six months for the attack on Pc Mares, and six years for the attempted attack on Pc Lenton. The sentences will run concurrently.

He issued a commendation to Pc Lenton, who immediately went to his colleague’s aid despite being soaked in petrol himself.