A would-be arsonist who tried to set fire to a police station by pouring accelerant over a front counter and throwing a lit rag later admitted he had been having "an off day".

Edward Midgley had gone to Medway police station in Gillingham shortly before 5pm on November 15 last year armed with a jar filled with flammable fluid.

Having poured the liquid out, he then ignited a piece of material with a cigarette lighter and "calmly" warned the startled staff "you guys better get out as it's going up".

Maidstone Crown Court heard the 35-year-old then placed his arms through an opening in the screen separating staff from members of the public and hurled the burning rag at the staff.

As he did so, he uttered the words: "You need to get out. It's going to burn."

Although the area had to be evacuated, the material landed on a desk and burnt itself out, said prosecutor Ruth Reid.

But a constable who bravely tackled Midgley ended up injured and "saturated" in the accelerant, which at the time was believed to be diesel.

When interviewed, Midgley, who has 23 previous convictions for 63 offences including numerous for violence, described the incident as "a blur", saying he had "no idea" why he had gone to the Purser Way station.

He added his father had given him a jar filled with paint thinner and the rag that same day to "make a fire in the woods", something he would regularly do.

He then spent a few hours in a nearby alleyway with a box of beer before heading to the police station as he "knew officers were looking for him", added Ms Reid.

When staff asked him "What are you doing?" as he poured the liquid onto the counter, he replied: "I'm setting light to it, I'm setting light to it. You guys had better get out because it's going up," the court was told on Friday (April 12).

Once the alarm had been triggered, PC James Adams, who had been in an adjacent room with another member of the public, confronted MIdgley.

"The defendant told him 'You come for me, I come for you,' and 'I'm leaving'," said Ms Reid.

"PC Adams said 'You're not, you are under arrest' but the defendant threw a punch at the officer and pushed him backwards.

"There was then a scuffle between them and PC Adams managed to prevent the defendant from leaving."

Midgley, however, continued to be aggressive and threatening once at North Kent police station and had to be restrained.

‘You guys better get out as it's going up…’

For his efforts, PC Adams was left with reddening and pain to his neck and ear, hearing problems and suspected concussion, as well as damaged clothing.

He also considered quitting the force, writing in a recent impact statement to the court: "When dealing with victims, I have thought if I can't look after myself, how can I look after someone else?"

Referring to being confronted by a man armed with flammable fluid and a lighter, the officer said he thought it would be "a horrible way to die."

The court also heard that his injuries affected his ability to care for his ill parents.

Civilian staff member Leanne John, who was employed as a public inquiry officer at the station, described the incident as a "near-miss" that left her feeling apprehensive at work.

"She said the defendant clearly wanted to set the station on fire and they were lucky it didn't catch," added the prosecutor.

Midgley, of High Street, Chatham, later admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and assault on an emergency worker.

But he denied ever intending to go to the building to cause a blaze and said he was "sorry for what he had done," the court was told.

"He said it was a blur, he had delusions and was psychotic. He said he was having 'an off day'," added Ms Reid.

It cost just over £900 to clean up and make good the resulting mess and damage, the court heard.

Trevor Wright, defending, said at the "core" of Midgley's problems was his long-standing alcohol dependency. as well as the "fairly limited options in finding stable accommodation" each time he was released from prison.

The barrister said, however, that his now sober client could be given a suspended sentence so he could turn the "promising start" he had made while on remand awaiting sentence into "something more permanent."

But on sentencing Midgley, Judge Shani Barnes said despite his "most impressive" letter to the court and "very balanced and reasoned expression" of the times he had been "let down by so many agencies" through a lack of resources, she "could not ignore the chaos" he had caused.

Jailing him for a total of three-and-a-half years, she said: "Every time you have made some progress there has been bitter disappointment and it seems you have tried every way you can to resolve matters.

"You have been let down as a child, as an adult and life in general.

"I'm usually distressed when I hear how well people do in custody because I know how hard prison is and how brutal it can be.

"Those who say they prefer prison and genuinely get on better cause me huge distress. It shouldn't be that way.

"You are making really positive efforts because you are safe and have people to look after you when you need help.

"Because you have food and a roof over your head, you are working really hard to become an enhanced prisoner....I know you are doing your absolute utmost.

"But you also have a serious problem with violence - against yourself and at least 12 times against those who every day seek to help the public by being emergency workers.

"PC Adams was caring not only for the public and dealing with a member of the public but had two parents who were critically unwell and he was their sole carer.

"By the time you had finished your arson and assaulted him, you left him in pieces, unable to look after his parents and doubting his own ability to be a police officer.

"The fact the fire went out rather than catching is a miracle and no one was hurt. But the chaos of that day cannot be ignored."