Mr Lavery also said one friend who was in the flat saw Foley pour the rum over Mr Collins and then saw Brown light it, and Brown had received blisters on his hands trying to put the fire out.

Mr Lavery added: “The evidence was clear – this was a stupid, drunken prank between friends which went tragically wrong.

“There was no evidence to suggest a malicious or hostile intention to cause really serious harm.”

John Kennerley, defending Foley, said: “Mr Foley has taken this on the chin. When the impact statement was read, he broke down emotionally.

“All throughout this, he has shown no regard for himself and has only been concerned with his friend’s recovery.”

Dan Gaskell, defending Brown, said: “He is extremely shocked and distressed at the pain and suffering he has caused to a friend.”

Sentencing the two men, His Honour Judge Thomas Teague, QC, said: “This was an act of stupendous folly.

“Even if the result had been far less serious, what you did was an extremely serious form of criminal recklessness and that cannot be overlooked.”

The judge dismissed pleas for suspended sentences.

He said he accepted there was no malicious intent, the defendants were genuinely remorseful and custody would be “devastating” for them.

Brown will serve his term at a Young Offender’s Institute while Foley will go to an adult prison.

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