Joshua Lee Crook, 33, is now facing charges of first-degree attempted arson and three misdemeanours.

Crook was confronted during his theft by the manager of the petrol station store in St. Louis - which straddles the Missouri-Illinois border - and punched him in the face, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Once outside, he grabbed a petrol pump nozzle and threw it to the ground before throwing a lit cigarette at the growing pool of fuel.

However, the fuel failed to light and Crook was subsequently arrested.

His misdemeanour charges are for third-degree assault, theft and trespassing.