Youngster burned in aerosol prank

FLAME-throwing youths left a 12-year-old boy needing hospital treatment for burns on the left side of his face.

The youngster was left with the burns, along with scorched eyebrows and eyelashes, after he was caught by flames created by a six-strong gang “playing” with a cigarette lighter and an aerosol.

A police spokeswoman said that the boy was walking along Lister Street, Clifton, alone when the incident occurred.

She said: “He noticed that one youth was playing with a lighter, while another sprayed an aerosol can into the flame.

“As the 12 year-old passed the group, he was caught by the flame and suffered minor injuries to the left side of his face, including singed eyebrows and eyelashes.

“The boy ran straight home and later taken to hospital for treatment.”

The police spokeswoman said that it was not clear whether the youths had intentionally planned to harm the 12 year-old as he walked past them at around 8pm on November 2.

Police have issued an appeal for witnesses to the incident and warned youths that playing with lighters and aerosol cans be extremely dangerous.

The spokeswoman added: “It appears that this was a one-off incident and officers investigating this case are appealing for anyone with information or saw what happened to contact South Yorkshire Police by dialling 101 and quoting incident reference 1190 of November 2.”