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A driver who crashed into a north London police station and set fire to the road outside ‘harboured a grudge’ against detectives for failing to investigate a theft he reported two years ago, a court heard today.
Adam Pawlowski, 45, is accused of attempted arson with intent to endanger life, dangerous driving and criminal damage after allegedly ramming his BMW into Edmonton Police Station on Wednesday night.
Video footage captured by witnesses showed him retrieving a jerry can from the rear of the vehicle, dousing the road in petrol and setting it alight before being pinned to the ground by three police officers.
Pawlowski, who represented himself at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court this morning, was described as being ‘aggressive’ in court after several outbursts.
He shouted from the dock: ‘Do you know why I’ve done this? F***ing fake police. I’ve had enough. Do you understand me? Always the same s**t. I don’t want a lawyer do you understand or no?
‘You are a fake. You are a fake. Everything is fake. You know why I’ve done this. It’s hiding everything.’
Witnesses captured the moment officers tackled the suspect Adam Pawlowski, 45, to the ground outside Edmonton Police Station on Fore Street at around 7pm. He appeared in court today, where prosecutors said he held a grudge over a theft he reported two years ago
He is accused of driving a BMW into the front door of the north London police station, breaking the glass, and then retrieving a jerry can from the rear and dousing petrol in the road.
The BMW is seen jutting out from the side of the building which has now been sealed off by a police cordon
Pawlowski did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody and will next appear at Wood Green Crown Court on December 16.
Prosecutor Zahid Hussain said: ‘On 11 November of this year at 7pm in the evening he crashed into Edmonton Police Station and at 7.11pm on the same evening the incident was declared by the Metropolitan Police as a major incident.
‘It is alleged against the defendant that he crashed into Edmonton Police Station. He remained inside the vehicle and attempted to reverse. On footage, it appears the rear wheel seemed to be furiously spinning and smoke was being emitted.
‘He then exits the vehicle and goes to the rear of the motor vehicle he was driving and retrieves a fuel canister.
‘He douses the petrol onto the outside of Edmonton Police Station and in a zigzag line onto the road in a close proximity to Edmonton Police Station.
‘He then ignites the fuel which is then lit. This is filmed by a passing member of the public.
‘The police are soon deployed to the scene and he was apprehended upon arrest.
‘I quote his words, “I have been waiting two years for you and now I’ve got you”. Those are the words attributed to him.
‘He was formally interviewed by police at the police station and having been assessed by a mental health practitioner he was deemed fit to be detained and interviewed.
‘He told police in interview it was not his intention to kill any person however he harboured a grudge against the police because he reported a theft more than two years ago and the police ignored the allegation he had made and he would no longer be ignored.
‘The defendant when being assessed by the practitioner at the police station he stated that he wanted his actions to be broadcast on television and was asking questions on whether it was being reported on the news and he wanted publicity.’
‘He was subsequently charged in relation to these matters, appears in custody and these matters are destined for the Crown Court.’
The prosecutor said if convicted, Pawrowski would be looking at a ‘significant term of imprisonment’ and should be denied bail.
Mr Hussain said: ‘He’s looking at a significant term of imprisonment. There is a substantial belief he would fail to surrender to bail and the gravity of these allegations and the likely sentence if convicted.
‘There are substantial grounds to believe he would commit further offences.
‘You have heard he has harboured a grudge against police. I reiterate his words, ‘I have been waiting two years for you and now I’ve got you.’
‘Based on the circumstances, seriousness and gravity, I ask you to deny his liberty. ‘
Pawlowski, of Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, was charged with an attempt to commit arson in that without lawful excuse attempted to damage by fire Edmonton Police Station intending to destroy or damage property or being reckless to whether property would be destroyed or damaged or intending by the destruction to endanger the life of another person or being reckless as to whether the life of a person would thereby be endangered.
The criminal damage to property relates to the glass doors valued at more than £5,000 belonging to the Metropolitan Police Service, according to the charge sheet.
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