TWO cousins suffered horror burns when a friend allegedly squirted fuel on a pub heater – causing it to explode into a fireball, a court heard.
April Charlesworth was celebrating her 28th birthday at the Kings Head pub in Great Cornard, , when the alleged attack unfolded.
Ashleigh, left, and April Charlesworth, right, were both injured in the horrorCredit: SWNS
April suffered burns to her neck, hands and faceCredit: SWNS
Ashleigh had to be put on a ventilator
She suffered agonising burns to her neck, hands and face, while her cousin Ashleigh Charlesworth was put on a ventilator after her airway started to swell.
Jurors heard Dale Carter was out with April and Ashleigh on April 24, 2021, as they enjoyed a night out following the Covid lockdown.
One of the group – April’s brother Sam – had brought a tabletop heater and a bottle of ethanol from home to warm everyone up.
He lit the heater and put the bottle of fuel in a bag before momentarily leaving the area, Ipswich Crown heard.
When Sam returned, he heard screaming and saw flames on the table in the pub garden.
Jurors heard Carter, 30, had allegedly squirted fuel on the heater, which caused it to erupt into a fireball.
Sam told the court he had warned the defendant about being careful with the heater and jokingly warned him not to set “anybody on fire”.
He claimed Carter responded by waving his hand through the flame and saying he was “Iron Man”.
Another witness, Mark Lawrence, told the court he saw Carter put fuel from a bottle on the table on the heater.
The first time there was a flame that flashed a foot out of the heater and then disappeared, he said.
The second time Carter allegedly did it, the flame was sucked into the bottle -setting fire to the table and causing the bottle to explode and turn into “a rocket”.
Jurors heard after the second time the fuel was squirted on to the heater, the lid and end of the bottle were blown off.
Carter’s hair was set alight along with clothing worn by former children’s nurse Ashleigh and cousin April.
Defence barrister Michael Epstein described the horror as a “freak accident”.
Carter, denies two offences of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
The trial continues.
The cousins were out for April’s birthdayCredit: SWNS
They were enjoying drinks in the King’s Head pubCredit: SWNS
April was rushed to hospital after the heater erupted into a fireballCredit: SWNS
Ashleigh has been left with scars from the horrorCredit: SWNS
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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