Prosecutors said Natland had been recruited by the Foxtrot Network, a Swedish organized crime group used by the Iranian state and sanctioned by both Britain and the United States.

Johannes Natland, 18 at the time, flew from Stavanger, south-west Norway, to Britain to assassinate a target in return for £21,000, the Old Bailey was told.

Footballer Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, claimed he was going to shoot himself in the foot