Petrol threat carjacker jailed for five years

A criminal who poured petrol over a man and threatened to set him alight during a terrifying carjacking ordeal has been jailed for more than five years.

Steven Owen, 42, told Peter Oberman he would "roast" him and "chop up" his family unless he handed over the keys to his Ford Fiesta, Newcastle Crown Court heard. He was sentenced to five years and nine months for robbery, two counts of driving while disqualified, making off without payment and theft of car number plates.

Mr Oberman had picked up Owen in South Tyneside believing him to be a motorist in need of assistance. He then took him to a petrol station where Owen had earlier hidden the cola bottle full of petrol.

Owen was arrested the next day as he tried to replace the number plates on the car with ones he had recently stolen.