An alleged attempted murder victim was left for dead inside his burning flat by two men he called friends, a court heard. Frank Cartner told a jury at Newcastle Crown Court that Anthony Slater and Anthony James came into his home in Kenton, Newcastle, before allegedly attacking him with a knife. Mr Cartner then claims the pair set fire to his home after barricading him in his bedroom. The court heard he had to be rescued by firefighters before being taken to hospital and having emergency surgery. Prosecutors allege that Slater, who had known Mr Cartner since they were young children, slashed his neck repeatedly and then encouraged James to do the same. The court heard the alleged attack took place after Mr Cartner was accused of stealing a fuse box from the house of a young mum, who had a child who relied on electrical medical equipment. However, Mr Cartner claims that this incident was never mentioned during the alleged attack and instead they were accusing him of stealing their mobile phones. Giving evidence via video link from HMP Northumberland where he is serving a sentence for an unrelated robbery, Mr Cartner admitted he stole the fuse box as…