Duo jailed for burning Melbourne squatter

A Melbourne squatter thought he'd wet himself in his sleep when he woke to the sensation of having petrol poured over him.

Within seconds, he was engulfed in flames.

But despite having burns to nearly 50 per cent of his body, the man survived.

On Friday, the two fellow squatters who attacked him in an "unbelievably cruel" and "protracted, sustained" fashion were jailed by the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Peter Newman, 35, was sent away for 14 years and Peter Gencev, 36, for 13 years.

All the three men were in June 2017 living in an abandoned warehouse at Southbank and all had drug problems.

The 28-year-old victim became angry after Newman sold drugs to his ex-girlfriend and decided to "evict" his four co-squatters, threatening them with a metal pole.

But later, Newman and Gencev returned, forcing open a window and entering the victim's bedroom as he slept.

Newman poured petrol on his target and ignited the accelerant before the pair left him in flames and closed the door.

"(His) entire body was on fire. He was in fear for his life," Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale said as he sent the men to prison.

The victim managed to get out of the room but was confronted by Newman and Gencev, who beat him with metal poles as he burned.

He played dead but his attackers persisted.

"You're going to kill me. I'm going to die. Stop," the victim pleaded.

He eventually managed to flee and a witness called triple zero after spotting him walking the street with skin hanging from his body.

Newman and Gencev hid on the roof before being taken down by firefighters and arrested.

The man, who is plagued with flashbacks and nightmares, was transported to hospital and underwent five surgeries.

"There is no doubt without treatment in hospital, the subject would have died," Justice Beale said.

"He will have low-quality life due to the injuries."

Newman and Gencev were initially charged with attempted murder but later pleaded guilty to intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence.

"The offending by both of you was unbelievably cruel," Justice Beale said.

Newman, who has already been locked up for 636 days, must serve 10 years in jail before he is eligible for parole.

Gencev, who has been behind bars for 725 days, must serve at least nine years before he can be released.