A COURT heard how a drunken prank left its victim with potentially lifelong facial scars.

While David Skelton slept off the effects of eight cans of lager at a Good Friday house party, friends Stephen Pearson and Mark Worthy part-shaved his eyebrows.

Durham Crown Court heard that they then attempted to dye his hair using turpentine before Pearson decided to singe what was left of Mr Skelton's eye brows using a lighter.

But when he applied the lighter, the turps in Mr Skelton's hair ignited.

Jamie Adams, prosecuting, said Mr Skelton needed a facial skin graft and was kept in hospital for four weeks.

Pearson, 20, of Leyburn Close, Urpeth Grange, near Chester-le-Street, admitted a charge of wounding.

Worthy, 19, of South Hylton, Sunderland, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Barristers for the pair said it was a prank that went horribly wrong, for which they were extremely remorseful.

Pearson was sent to a young offenders' institution for 12 months, while Worthy was given a six-month house curfew order, between 8pm and 8am, to be monitored by electronic tag.