A former military policeman from Selby has been jailed for six years for petrol-bombing a nightclub.

Paul McKenzie, aged 27, of Barlby Road, Barlby, plans to appeal against sentence with the backing of his family, who were shocked by the jail term.

Co-accused Mark Jackson, aged 28, of Hull Road, Osgodby, who was jailed for five years, may also appeal.

Sheffield Crown Court heard that Jackson was ordered out of the Visage, in Silver Street, Doncaster, because he had drunk too much.

The pair then planned their revenge, buying petrol and a bottle of milk from a filling station to make the Molotov cocktail.

They were filmed by a CCTV camera returning to the disco in the early hours, when McKenzie hurled the petrol bomb across the street.

The court was told it exploded in a fireball at the club entrance. As the blazing petrol spread, one of the doormen had his trousers set on fire, but escaped with minor injuries.

Prosecutor Andrew Robertson, QC, described the attack as "highly reckless and potentially very dangerous".

Judge Linda Sutcliffe said the videotape of the attack made grim viewing.

She said the defendants' actions were clearly planned from the moment they left the club.

McKenzie - who was said to have served his country well while with the Royal Military Police in Northern Ireland - and Jackson both pleaded guilty to reckless arson and assault.

Barrister Jeremy Richardson, for McKenzie, said the defendants thought they had been unfairly treated by the doormen.

He said it was a "gross over-reaction", and was intended to frighten the club bouncers, not hurt them.

McKenzie had given up his factory job and was studying at Selby College when the incident happened.

His mother, Irene McKenzie, said from her Barlby home that she believed that six years was too harsh a sentence.

She said that Paul hardly ever went out, and it had come as a big shock.

Jackson was jailed for a year less because he had not thrown the bomb.

Tim Stead, barrister for Jackson, said his client was engaged to be married and had settled down. He was described by his boss as an "exemplary employee".

Updated: 14:01 Thursday, January 11, 2001