DAD Darren Rogers faces the prospect of jail after he admitted leaving a fake petrol bomb at a house in Wootton Bassett with intent for people to think it would explode.

Rogers, 32, put the device outside a house in The Lawns, Wootton Bassett, on Sunday, August 8 last year, a court heard.

On the first morning of his trial at Swindon Crown Court the dad pleaded guilty to a charge of placing an article with intent.

He admitted leaving petrol at the house with intent that another should believe the article was likely to explode and thereby cause personal injury or damage.

The offence, under the Criminal Law Act 1977, carries a maximum sentence of up to seven years in custody

Rogers left the device following the break up of a relationship with his partner, with whom he has a son, the court heard.

The case was adjourned so the probation service can compiled pre-sentence reports about him.

Nic Gerasimidis, defending, said that his client had been separated from his former partner and had not contacted her since the incident, though he wished to write to her to apologise for what he had done.

He said that his client had also not had any contact with his son but hoped to see him again.