A man lit the spray from an aerosol can and burned a sleeping party-goer with the flame in a “very reckless” drunken prank gone wrong.
David Sandison has admitted to culpably and recklessly injuring a man by burning his body at an address in Scalloway, Shetland.
The 26-year-old appeared in the dock at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday, following his irresponsible behaviour on July 24 last year.
Both men were at a party after being at another social event and, after the pair had been drinking, Sandison’s victim then fell asleep on a couch in the early hours.
‘The burn was described as deep’
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said “As he was seated, the accused – for some reason – decided to apply a flame to the spray of an aerosol can and burnt the complainer on the left arm while he was asleep”.
The man was in “some pain” but ended up going home to bed and only went to the hospital the next day, the court was told.
“The burn was described as deep and would heal but would leave a scar,” Mr Mackenzie said.
Video footage of the incident also spread across social media and Sandison contacted the complainer the next day to apologise.
When the police became involved, Sandison told officers that he never intended to cause any harm.
‘Very reckless’ conduct
Defence agent Martin Morrow added that people at the party underestimated how far the flame would travel and its strength.
His client also struggled to reconcile the extent of the injury he caused with what happened on the night of the incident.
He also said that at the time there were no “overt signs” of distress from the man who was burned.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank suggested the complainer may have been “slightly anaesthetised” at the time, to which Mr Morrow agreed.
The sheriff said it was apparent that Sandison did not mean to cause harm to his friend but he ruled it was “very reckless” conduct.
Sandison, of Lerwick’s North Lochside, was fined £450 and told to pay his victim £1,000 in compensation.
