A former soldier tormented by his brother's death has been jailed for bombarding a police station with home-made bombs.

Michael Finch, 47, destroyed four squad cars and damaged a station door with Molotov cocktails.

He bore a grudge against police after his brother's killer was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder in 2002.

Finch, who was jailed for four years, made the bombs using instructions he found on the internet.

Chichester Crown Court heard yesterday he waited to be arrested while fires raged at Chichester police station because he wanted the attack to be seen as a protest. He had to be subdued by officers using Captor spray.

Finch's younger brother Derek, 38, died in August 2001 when Mark Dyson, of Laycock Close, West Wittering, injected him with heroin.

Drug dealer Dyson, who had owed crack cocaine supplier Derek money, admitted manslaughter and was jailed for four-and-a-half years.

At Friday's hearing, Michael Warren, prosecuting, said the Finch family were upset at the police investigation into Derek's death and the fact they were not consulted before the charge against Dyson was reduced.

The family also heard police say: "We've had the greatest day - Derek Finch is dead, England wins the cricket and Derek Finch is dead."

Michael Finch met Superintendent Dick Barton on October 17, 2003 to discuss the family's grievances but the meeting resulted in him being unceremoniously escorted out of Chichester police station.

He resolved to mix diesel and petrol in his bath at Marlet Close, Chichester, and poured the flammable mix into seven bottles.

At 3.25am on November 6, 2003, Post Office workers raised the alarm when they saw flames in the police station car park.

Mr Warren said: "Finch had satisfied himself nobody was in the police station and threw one of the bottles at the bottom of the door. That did not appear to set fire particularly well but, in the meantime, he went to the police cars and threw bottles of petrol underneath to ignite the tyres.

"In interview, Finch said it was taking a long time for anyone to come so he started to smash windows with a pickaxe handle."

More than £50,000 damage was caused to the building and five vehicles, four of which were wrecked.

Finch had a previous conviction for threatening or abusive behaviour from when he lunged towards Dyson after he was sentenced in 2002.

He pleaded guilty to arson at the police station, four counts of arson to police vehicles and attempted arson to a police vehicle.

In a police interview, Finch had said: "My family has been decimated. We cannot put Derek to rest.

"I wanted to punish the police, not hurt them. I have done what I meant to. Now I will pay for it."

Terry Brookes, defending, said his client had worked for charities and around the world as a soldier.

He had married in America but his wife died from ovarian cancer when their son was two years old.

Finch had been dismissed from the Army for threatening a senior officer with a gun.

Mr Brookes said: "Derek had achieved a notorious reputation as a local criminal.

"In that context my client thought police were less than enthusiastic in pursuing the person who caused his death.

"My client had no idea he would be allowed to cause the damage he did. He was waiting to be arrested and no one came to do it."

Shocked at the lack of security at the station, Judge Anthony Thorpe told Finch: "Whatever your motives, your behaviour was highly dangerous and cannot be excused in any way."

After the hearing, Superintendent Cliff Parrott said: "Sussex Police are reviewing our security measures."