Poker branding prank man detained

A man was scarred for life when he was branded with a red hot poker by a group of drunken friends said to have been indulging in a Jackass-style stunt.

The friends copied a scene from the US television series Jackass and held Mark Campion down on a bed and burned him to the legs and abdomen.

Stephen Fenner, 19, from Machynlleth, Powys, admitted wounding and was sentenced to 18 months youth detention.

Mold Crown Court heard that only one of the gang involved had been prosecuted.

The court heard how one of those who restrained Mr Campion repeatedly shouted "burn him again".

Judge Philip Hughes said Fenner had been involved in "foolish, immature and drunken behaviour".

'Hot poker'

"You and friends got very drunk and then engaged in violent behaviour on each other," the judge said.

He said he was sentencing Fenner on the basis that he had held Mr Campion down, rather than doing the actual branding.

"You held him down while someone else actually burned him on three occasions with a red hot poker," the judge added.

The court heard Mr Campion had three burns in total, one to each leg and one to his abdomen, each 8cm long.

He also had bruising to his arms and legs and his face was blistered.

A victim impact statement showed how he suffered nightmares, had trouble walking, and would remain scarred for the rest of his life.

Simon Parry, defending, said Fenner admitted wounding on the basis that he had held the victim down.

"Following a drinking binge, they indulged in what is commonly known as Jackass behaviour, from the movie Jackass, where young people inflict all kinds of practical jokes including physical violence on each other," he said.

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