Lowestoft man in court over Great Yarmouth petrol attack

Paul Courtney, 39, is accused of forcing his way into a home on Middle Market Road in Great Yarmouth and dousing those inside with petrol.

Norwich Magistrates' Court was told CCTV at the nearby Sainsbury’s petrol station had captured a man filling a jerry can and leaving without paying shortly before the attack at 5am on May 25.

Police at the scene of the alleged petrol attack on Middle Market Road (Image: Newsquest)

READ MORE: Man charged for Great Yarmouth petrol attack

A man had then forced his way into the terraced house and thrown petrol over the interior and occupants, the court was told. 

Neighbours had described hearing people shouting and screaming from the property.

Minutes later, a man who had fled the scene was injured during a violent altercation on Regent Road and was taken to hospital by air ambulance.

He was arrested after being released from hospital.

Courtney, of The Street in Corton, near Lowestoft, did not enter pleas to charges of attempted arson, criminal damage, two counts of assault, and making off without payment over the theft of fuel.

He was refused bail and remanded in custody pending a preliminary hearing at Norwich Crown Court on June 27. 

READ MORE: Man doused people in petrol in Great Yarmouth before assault

Sally Harris, prosecuting, said: “The victims were not known to each other personally. They had met during a night out in Great Yarmouth and it is said he returned with them but was refused entry because they didn’t know him.” 

The court was told the damage to the property had been so extensive that it was still uninhabitable. 

“Should he have had the means to light the petrol this could have been considerably worse,” added Ms Harris.

In a separate hearing, a second man, Karl Pammen, 40, of no fixed abode, has been charged with attempted GBH and has been released on bail to appear at Norwich Crown Court on June 25.