THIS is the moment alleged conspirators grinned as they posed with a 'gun' said to have been used to 'scare' a man into squirting acid on a three-year-old boy in Worcester.

The photo shows alleged conspirators Norbert Pulko and Jan Dudi posing with the BB gun in Wolverhampton the day before sulphuric acid was sprayed on the boy in Home Bargains,Worcester.

The images were shown to a jury during the acid attack conspiracy trial at Worcester Crown Court today. Six men and a woman deny conspiracy to apply a corrosive fluid with intent to burn, maim, disable or disfigure the boy or do him grievous bodily harm.

Adam Cech claims this same 'gun' was used by Pulko to threaten him into squirting the boy on Saturday, July 21 last year at 2.16pm.

The prosecution case is that the conspiracy was driven by the boy's 40-year-old Afghan father who used 'middle men' Jabar Paktia and Saied Hussini to recruit three Slovak men and a Czech woman, Martina Badiova. The motive, say the prosecution, was to make the father's estranged wife look like a 'bad mother' and win custody of their children. Pulko, 22, Cech, 27, and Dudi, 25, were arrested at Headbourne House, Sutherland Road, London at 3am on July 23 last year and the BB gun seized from Pulko's room. Cech claims he had no idea the white bottle Pulko pushed into his hand contained acid. He also said he was 'high' on Crystal Meth at the time. Cech told the jury Pulko changed the SIM card in his phone and held him 'hostage' in London after a police press release was issued showing CCTV of the three men in the Worcester shop.

Pulko's barrister, Melanie Simpson, said Cech had been seen 'playing' with the same gun he claimed was used to threaten him and told him: "I suggest you are trying to take this jury for idiots."

Jonathan Rees QC, prosecuting, produced telephone records which showed that Pulko, Dudi and Cech were all at DAI Leisure Pursuits in Brierley Hill at 4.30pm on July 19 when the BB gun was purchased. A receipt for the £54.99 air pistol with Pulko's Essex address on it was also shown to the jury. But Cech said he could not remember going there and had not noticed the gun, seeing it for the first time when Pulko used it to threaten him and 'best friend' Dudi on the day of the acid attack.

Photos were shown of both Dudi and Pulko posing with the same BB gun and smiling. The photos were taken on Dudi's phone, inside Dudi's home at 9.15pm on July 20 last year, the day before the alleged attack which left the boy screaming in pain with burns to his face and arm.

Mr Rees pointed out that Dudi, a former bouncer, was holding the gun and had it tucked precariously into the waistband of his jeans. "You're suggesting that Mr Dudi was scared of Mr Pulko?" said Mr Rees.

"I thought that he was scared" said Cech.

Dudi laughed in the dock when Cech said he 'was easily scared'. Cech told the jury: "Can I tell you something? I'm a nice person from a nice family.

"I'm a good father, a responsible father and I'm working.

"Why would I harm a little innocent boy who I don't know? I'm very sorry for what I have done. I know I made a mistake but I did not know what was inside this bottle and I was forced to do it."

The trial continues.