Had to laugh at the misadventures of 2 English burglars.  One of them caught fire after an explosion at an electricity substation they were trying to burgle. Michael Harper (aged 36) suffered serious burns and has been left permanently disfigured by the blast. 

While he lay on the floor on fire, accomplice Richard Boyce (50) took his car keys and tried to drive off. He was later found by police with blistered hands.  With friends like him, Mr Harper doesn’t need enemies, obviously.

What happened to cause the explosion that did the damage?  Apparently while these bright sparks were stripping copper wire from the transformer, which had 2 11,000 volt cables going into it, Boyce, who claimed some electrical expertise, had drained oil from the conductors to insulate against electrical charges.  Harper at some stage decided he needed a piss, and did so on the transformer.  Bang, sparks fly, set fire to the oil and all hell breaks loose.

Rather unsurprisingly, according to Boyce, the 2 men had gone to the substation to shoot up heroin.  And to rob it to finance their next purchase.

Boyce got 4 years jail for his efforts.  Harper got one year, seemingly because the judge took pity on him because of his injuries.  In the judge’s words:

"You have suffered a punishment, it seems to me, already.

"You were seriously injured and very nearly lost your life and will be permanently disfigured."

I’m listening to Siouxsie And The Banshees – Peek-A-Boo