A SCHOOLBOY who kicked a burning home-made bomb towards a childhood friend -- setting his clothes alight and scarring him for life -- was sent to custody.

The 15-year-old, said to be interested in explosions and chemicals, was sitting with his mother as Burnley Crown Court heard how "high jinks," turned into tragedy -- and had left both boys' lives in tatters.

He was still wearing his school uniform as he was led away to begin a six months detention and training order, after a judge told him no course other than custody could be justified.

Judge David Pirie said the defendant had not intended to injure anybody and his actions had been reckless, but the victim was hit by flaming lighter fuel and suffered very serious injuries. The boy was burned all down the front of his body, had skin grafts and may face further surgery.

After the hearing, the teenage victim spoke of how the incident had ruined his life -- and how he did not think he could forgive the culprit.

The schoolboy, who can no longer play sports or go swimming, still travels to Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester, once a week and has to have his chest massaged three times a day.

He was in hospital for about three weeks and had to be fed through his nose and then had to return every day for treatment.

The boy's parents said they did not want to comment on the actual sentence imposed on the defendant, but his mother said: "I just wanted him to realise what he he had done and the effects it had on our son."

The defendant, from Rawtenstall, earlier admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, last July. He had no previous convictions. A court order means neither he nor the victim can be identified.

Phillip Holden, prosecuting, said before the offence, the defendant and another teenager had been experimenting with home-made bombs using icing sugar, weed killer, batteries and metal tins.

The defendant and the other youth had a large plastic bucket on the floor, liquid was poured into it and the defendant lit it, sending flames four inches over the top of the bucket.

The bucket fell over and the defendant kicked it in the direction of the victim, causing it to fly two feet through the air. The burning liquid hit the victim, causing his cotton T-shirt to catch fire.

Both the defendant and his friend told the victim to roll on the floor to try and put the flames out and a fourth youth, in a distressed state, ran to get help. A bucket of water was thrown over the victim who had been running about in pain before going on the floor and he was taken to a nearby house, where an ambulance was called.

Mr Holden said the victim was taken to Bury General Hospital and then transferred to Booth Hall as an emergency. He had suffered burns to his chest and upper abdomen, arms, shoulders and his face and neck.

There, he was twice taken to the operating theatre and was treated with a derivitive of pig skin used as a dressing. The victim was discharged after 24 days.

The prosecutor added the victim may yet have to undergo skin grafts and although he would be scarred for life, it was not yet known to what extent, as the healing process would not be completed for between six months and two years.

Anthony Cross, for the defendant, said he was remorseful. The two boys had known each other a long time and the offence was a tragedy. Not only had the victim's life been ruined to the extent it obviously had, but so had the defendant's.