JURORS were told that seven people 'plotted' to carry out an acid attack on a three-year-old boy – including the child's own father – as a high-profile trial began today.

The defendants denied conspiracy to apply a corrosive fluid with intent when they appeared in the dock in court one of Worcester Crown Court this afternoon.

The alleged acid attack took place at Home Bargains in Shrub Hill Retail Park, Tallow Hill, Worcester at 2.15pm on July 21 last year.

The particulars of the offence are that between June 1 and July 22 last year they 'conspired together unlawfully and maliciously to cast or throw at or upon or otherwise apply to a minor a corrosive fluid, namely sulphuric acid, with intent to burn, main, disfigure or disable the said minor or to do grievous bodily harm' to him.

The jury is expected to start hearing evidence in the six week trial tomorrow (Tuesday) after being sworn today. The case will be heard by Judge Robert Juckes QC.

The defendants are the child's father, who cannot be named for legal reasons; Adam Cech, aged 27, of Farnham Road, Birmingham; Jan Dudi, 25, of Cranbrook Road, Birmingham; Jabar Paktia, 42, of New Hampton Road, Wolverhampton; Norbert Pulko, aged 22, of Sutherland Road, London; Saied Hussini, 42, of Wrottesley Road, London; Martina Badiova, 22, of Newcombe Road, Birmingham.

Jonathan Rees QC, prosecuting, told the jury in waiting: "The focus of this case is an attack on a three-year-old boy in a store called Home Bargains which some of you may know is located in the Shrub Hill retail estate in this very town, Worcester.

"The allegation is that seven people were involved in a plot to carry out this attack which involved the squirting or application of a corrosive fluid, a fluid which turned out to be sulphuric acid, on this three-year-old boy while he was shopping with his siblings and his mother in Home Bargains on Saturday July 21 last year."

The jury in waiting was told that the case involved three Afghan defendants, one of them the child's father, three Slovakians and a Czech all of whom will need interpreters throughout the trial.

They were also told the case involved reference to a Worcester primary school, a children's centre outside the city and the Rainbow Casino in Birmingham. The address of the mother of the injured child was also disclosed but cannot be reported for legal reasons.

The jury was told the names of some of people who were in Home Bargains at the time of the attack and are expected to form part of the evidence to the case and paramedics involved in treating the boy.

The jurors in waiting were also asked to look at the defendants after they were asked to stand in the dock to make sure they did not know any of them.

A jury of 14 was chosen, two of them not expected to be involved once the prosecution has concluded the opening of the case.

The defendants were remanded in custody.