King’s Lynn man guilty of setting light to Norwich teenager

A Norfolk drug dealer has been found guilty of setting another man on fire.

Benjamin Bussey, 34, threw lighter fluid over his teenage victim before setting him alight in a row over drug debts.

Bussey, of Plough Lane, Watlington, near King's Lynn, was convicted of grievous bodily harm and supplying cocaine following a two-week trial at Norwich Crown Court. He was remanded in custody to be sentenced on March 3.

Officers were called to Quebec Road, Norwich, on September 11 to speak to Bussey about a related matter. Bussey fled the scene, dropping a mobile phone and a bag containing cocaine.

When police searched him, he was found to be carrying cash and a drug dealer's debt list. Police found further items linked to drug dealing during the searched of a vehicle linked to Bussey.

Two days earlier, Bussey had called at a flat in Paradise Place to demand payment of a �75 drugs debt from 18-year-old Joshua Burrage. Bussey poured lighter fluid over Mr Burrage, who was asleep in bed, before flicking several lit matches at him. This set the teenager alight leaving him with serious burns to his face, neck and back.

Det Sgt Richard Dickinson, from Norwich CID, who led the investigation, said: 'This is an extremely unusual case in Norwich and Norfolk generally. This was a horrible act of violence and we are pleased that justice has been done.

'We would like to thank the victim and his uncle for coming forward and giving evidence. He was brave to come forward after enduring such a violent and shocking attack. We would also like to thank all witnesses that assisted in this case.

'The entire incident and the trial have placed a degree of stress on the family who are satisfied with the verdict of the court.'

To read the full story, see tomorrow's Evening News.