A DRUG conspirator was attacked for not having 'the guts' to give evidence as Worcester dealers were compared to 'rats'.

Asgar Khalfe and Kane Ingram admit conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine in Worcester. However, Khalfe, 35, previously of Townley Gardens, Worcester, and Ingram, 21, of Saddlers Walk, Worcester, deny conspiracy to assault Luke Bridger as their trial continued at Worcester Crown Court yesterday. A crossbow and blank firing pistol were shot at the Bridger home in Carlisle Road, Ronkswood, Worcester on August 30, 2017. Scott Fewtrell, 28, of Chedworth Drive, Tommy Lee Jauncey, 23, previously of St George's Lane and their 28-year-old driver Jake Cox have already admitted conspiracy to assault Mr Bridger. Fewtrell shot a crossbow at the door and Jauncey shot the pistol as a child cowered in fear. Cox and Jauncey also admit the drugs conspiracies. Prosecutor Steven Bailey asked Ingram if Jauncey had 'bigger balls' than him because he carried out the attack after Ingram argued with Mr Bridger over Facebook Messenger.

"Obviously not, they were shooting at 12-year-olds" said Ingram. Ingram claimed that conversations between him and Khalfe were about 'drugs' or 'chit chat', not the attack on the Bridger family home.

Mr Bailey said: "Are you saying that to protect Khalfe because he hasn't had the guts to go in the witness box and you have?"

Ingram, who was in the Durrant's gun shop in Worcester when the blank firing pistol was bought, said: "I'm trying to get myself found innocent which I am."

In his closing speech Mr Bailey said of Khalfe: "He's hiding behind his minions and he's hiding behind his barrister."

He added: "When Ozzie (Khalfe) says 'jump', everyone else says 'how high?' You just don't cross Khalfe or, if you do, you do it at your peril." He said there was a proverb about never being more than a few metres from a rat and that it was also like that with dealers.

The trial continues.