Boy 'went up in flames' jury told

Another friend tried to put out the flames using milk

A teenager "quite literally went up in flames" after a 14-year-old friend sparked a lighter next to him, a jury at Cardiff Crown Court has been told.

The boy denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but has admitted grievous bodily harm.

The prosecution said the 13-year-old suffered 29% burns and would probably need surgery for the rest of his life.

The jury heard the victim had spilled petrol on his trousers after sniffing its fumes in a garage near Aberdare.

Huw Evans, prosecuting, said the 13-year-old "quite literally went up in flames" in the incident on 12 April at the garage in Godreaman.

Flames

Mr Evans added that he was in hospital for eight weeks and needed skin grafts.

"He has been left very seriously scarred," Mr Evans added.

The two boys were with others, who had been messing about with a friend's motorbike, the jury was told.

Some, including the injured boy, had been sniffing petrol from a can but somehow petrol had been spilled onto his trousers.

Speaking via a live video-link, the 13-year-old said he had been "tonking" or sniffing petrol, for the first time on that occasion and said it had made him feel giddy.

He told the court the 14-year-old had spilled petrol on him, and denied he had done it himself.

He said he "felt something wet" on his leg and that he had then grabbed his friend, who pushed him back.

"I said 'light me on fire and you're coming with me'," he told the court.

"I just remember running up the steps in flames."

Other friends, and the mother of one boy, tried to extinguish the flames with milk and damp towels before an ambulance arrived.

The boy said: "It was hurting like I hadn't felt pain before."

When questioned the boy estimated 20 seconds passed between the petrol being spilled on his leg and the trousers going up in flames.

The court heard that the defendant told police later that he was lighting a cigarete with his lighter when the other boy accidentally caught fire.

Neither can be identified.

The case is continuing.