Craig Finn was left with severe burns and a leg amputated/SWNS

A man who set his friend on fire for a prank - causing him to lose a leg - has been jailed for five years.

Craig Finn fell asleep on his bathroom floor in in Spennymoor, County Durham after a night drinking with friends when James Gillibrand set him on fire in what has been described as “a prank that went horribly wrong”.

Durham Crown Court heard how Gillibrand poured 200ml turpentine fluid on his friend’s legs and buttocks, before igniting kitchen roll and setting him on fire.

The burns were so severe that Finn was left fighting for his life in hospital before having to have his left leg amputated below the knee.

Gillibrand, 25, of Seaham, was today jailed for five years and three months after admitting GBH without intent and committing arson reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Prosecutor Richard Bennett said: “There was no bad blood or malice between the complainant and the defendant. The crown’s view has always been that this was a prank that went horribly wrong.

“When the complainant woke in hospital he recalled he had needed to go to the toilet. The last thing he recalls is passing out on the bathroom floor.”

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Craig Finn pictured heavily bandaged in hospital/SWNS

Mr Bennett described how Gillibrand took pictures of Finn on his phone before closing the bathroom door, leaving him to be engulfed in the flames.

He then called emergency services but played down Finn’s injuries, saying he had burned himself on a cigarette, meaning no ambulance was dispatched until the next morning when Finn’s housemate woke up and saw the extent of the burns.

Finn was taken to Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary in February 2014 where doctors had to amputate his left leg below the knee, while his right ankle had to be reconstructed.

He remained in a coma for a month suffering 70 per cent third degree burns across his lower body and minor burns to his arms and face.

In a victim impact statement reported by MailOnline; Finn told the court: “I still can’t sleep at night as I am scared to go to sleep because of the bad dreams I suffer from. I dream about being set on fire and I have the fear of dying.

“I have problems with trust, James was a good friend who I always stuck by, even when he fell out with others.

“In the future, if I was to have children of my own, I worry that I would not be able to look after them because of my injury.

“My life has changed forever. Every morning I have to wake up and put my leg on.”

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