THE key exhibit in the trial of a teenager accused of a Worcester firebombing could have been planted by "a bent policeman", a defence barrister told a jury.

A twist of tissue paper - alleged to be a bomb wick - found in the garden of the targeted house in Ronkswood bore Sajad Hussain's thumbprint.

But his counsel Edward McKiernan claimed the paper could have "migrated" to the crime scene.

In his final speech, he said: "It only takes one bent officer. It's obvious whoever did it was wanting to make a case against Hussain. If someone else put that wick there, he's not guilty."

Mr McKiernan pointed out that the defendant was in the habit of taking tissue paper from a dispenser at The Commandery service station in Worcester to wipe his hands.

He poured scorn on a police log which recorded people visiting the targeted house after a blaze on Thursday, August 2, last year from which six people escaped.

He told Worcester Crown Court that the Disney cartoon character Goofy would have done as good a job filling it in.

Hussain, an 18-year-old ice cream salesman, of Rainbow Hill, Worcester, denies five counts of attempted murder, arson with intent to endanger life and perverting the course of justice.

He insisted Hussain never made a phone call to his girlfriend Jody Boulton at 3.46am saying he was on his way to target the house.

And records showed there were five other gold Nissan Micra cars with similar number plates. One spotted near the targeted house was alleged to be Hussain's.

Hussain made no comment in police interviews, but his barrister said he was only 18 and had acted on legal advice.

Malcolm Parkes, prosecuting, said there was "an overwhelming case" against Hussain, who was prepared to tell as many lies as he could.

He maintained the teenager deliberately planned to kill a family because a girl of 15 had made a sex attack complaint against him.

He dismissed the claim that Hussain was the victim of a police-led conspiracy.

Apart from the thumbprint, two number plate digits from his Micra were correctly recalled by a witness, and he was picked out in a police identity parade.

The prosecutor added: "The defendant must be a victim of a fantastic series of coincidences or he's guilty." The jury is due to be sent out on Monday to consider verdicts.