Boy cleared of deliberate burning

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A 14-year-old who sparked a lighter near his friend's leg after petrol had spilled on it did not intend to do him serious injury, a jury has decided.

The teenager admitted causing grievous bodily harm to the 13-year-old at Aberdare, Cynon Valley, but was cleared of doing it with intent.

The victim suffered 29% burns and the jury was told he would have long-term physical and mental scars.

Sentencing was adjourned at Cardiff Crown Court for 28 days.

It later emerged that the defendant would also be sentenced after admitting an arson attack involving the destruction of a lorry trailer for which his co-accused has been sentenced to four months' detention and training.

Sentencing for that matter and the grievous bodily harm conviction was adjourned until 12 October.

One psychologist told the court that the defendant may have a mental age of just three.

This has been a most regrettable incident and he [the victim] is going to be profoundly affected, probably for the rest of his life Judge Phillip Richards

The boys had been at a friend's house near Aberdare on 12 April when petrol was spilled on the 13-year-old's clothing. Neither boy can be identified because of their age.

Speaking via video-link, the 13-year-old said he had been "tonking" or sniffing petrol for the first time.

The accused boy said the victim had spilled petrol on his own leg after falling to the floor while sniffing its fumes.

He admitted sparking a lighter near his friend's leg after petrol had spilled on it.

When asked why he had done it, he answered: "Because the boys told me to."

Skin grafts

The court was told the 13-year-old "quite literally went up in flames" in the incident.

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

The 13-year-old told the court: "It was hurting like I hadn't felt pain before."

He needed skin grafts during his eight-week stay at Morriston Hospital, Swansea.

The jury was told the 14-year-old had not thought the trousers would go up in flames the way they did because he thought it would be the same as lighting spray from an aerosol.

My heart goes out to the other boy's parents Defendant's mother, outside court

He told the court that between 20 and 30 minutes had elapsed between the petrol being spilled and the lighter being sparked, and that he believed the fuel would have evaporated by then.

'Hell of an ordeal'

The boy often played with his lighter and he had been smoking since the age of eight, the court heard.

He was cleared of grievous bodily harm with intent by a unanimous verdict after the jury had been out for little more than 40 minutes.

After the verdict, Judge Phillip Richards said: "This has been a most regrettable incident and he (the victim) is going to be profoundly affected, probably for the rest of his life."

Outside court, the defendant's mother said she was relieved by the verdict.

"It's brilliant news," she said. "I don't think he had any intent in doing that. He hasn't got a bad bone in his body.

"My heart goes out to the other boy's parents. I wouldn't like it if it was the other way around.

"He [the victim] has gone through one hell of an ordeal and he is still going to."