Father denies role in 'acid attack' on three-year-old boy

The father of a three-year-old boy injured in a suspected acid attack has denied conspiring with six other people to carry out the assault.

The youngster suffered serious burns to his face and arm at the Home Bargains store in Worcester on July 21.

His 39-year-old father is charged with conspiring to commit grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident, in the Tallow Hill area of the city.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to the offence when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Tuesday.

Five other men and a woman - all of whom are facing the same allegation - also denied the charge during the hearing.

Also accused are Adam Cech, 27, and Jan Dudi, 25, both from Birmingham, Norbert Pulko, 22, and Saied Hussini, 41, both from London, and Jabar Paktia, 41, from Wolverhampton.

Martina Badiova, 22, of Newcombe Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, appeared in the court dock alongside the men.

She was the seventh person arrested in connection with the investigation and was charged on Friday.

The defendants spoke with the assistance of four different interpreters, using the Dari, Pashto, Czech and Slovak languages, and were flanked by seven dock officers.

About 30 family and friends of the defendants also packed the public gallery.

Adjourning the case for a preliminary hearing on September 21, Judge Jim Tindal told those in the dock: "By that stage, what I hope to have happened is we'll have identified a potential trial date and a potential trial judge, if not his honour Judge (Robert) Jukes."

All the defendants were remanded into custody to appear back at the same court next month.