Attackers who set man on fire jailed

Two men who set a man on fire after squirting inflammable liquid on him have been jailed.

Joshua Strickland and Robinson Binks forced their way into the property in Fossgate in York and attacked their victim as he lay on the sofa last April.

York Crown Court was told the man called police screaming that he had been set on fire.

Strickland, 30, was jailed for 14 years while Binks, 28, was given a 12-year sentence after both were found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm.

The man was taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment to burns and blistering.

Police said forensic tests from the scene detected low levels of petrol residues.

Strickland, of no fixed address and Binks, of Clarence Street, fled the scene after the attack on 19 April but were arrested a few days later.

Strickland was also found guilty of witness intimidation and pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon and criminal damage after he attacked a vehicle belonging to a member of the victim's family and made threats to harm him and the rest of his family.

He was also convicted of assaulting a police officer after kicking an officer in the face while in custody.

Det Sgt Michele Fawcett, from North Yorkshire Police, said "This was a particularly shocking incident and could have been catastrophic for the victim."

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