Teenager Stephen Young was convicted of threatening to turn himself into a human firebomb and blow up police and on-lookers.

The 18-year-old made the threats in May when he held a box of matches and stood, dripping with petrol, next to two gas cylinders outside the Lamb and Flag pub in Faringdon Road, Longworth.

When police told him to give himself up, the upset teenager told them: "Leave off or I'll take you with me."

Yesterday, a jury at Oxford Crown Court found him guilty of causing affray and threatening to cause criminal damage.

Judge Anthony King adjourned the case for four weeks so that pre-sentence reports could be prepared before he passes sentence.

But he said he was not thinking of sending Young to prison.

Judge King told Young's defence counsel, Neil Moore: "It strikes me that that this act was reckless, impetuous, extremely ill-thought-out and extremely dangerous to the public, but it doesn't strike me that he is a young man who is beyond salvation.

"I shall want to know why he went to such extremes and why he didn't back down.

"A community penalty of some kind may be appropriate in this case."

The incident started after Young, who was working as a barman at the pub, had a row with his mother, who was the licensee at the time.

Giving evidence, Young said the row was the result of a long period of strain and was the worst they had ever had. Afterwards he went outside to calm down and heard police had been called.

He had denied the charges, saying he never meant to set himself alight or harm anyone.

He started the drama because he wanted his mother to speak to him.

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