She told jurors: "If you step back you will understand that for an inexperienced but committed young man like Humza Ali, who intends to leave his Western urban life for war in the Middle East, the opportunities for handling anything remotely resembling a type of firearm are extremely limited.

"Membership, for example, of a gun club might draw unwanted attention, but the occasional paintballing session with friends is ideal, however bizarre that may seem, and at least enables the participant to handle a type of weapon and to take broad aim.

"Should you be in any doubt about the serious intent behind this activity in June 2014, you will be able to consider evidence which we say demonstrates that this was in fact a sort of training exercise, and of itself an act of preparation.

"During it, the participants posed for photographs in quasi-combat gear, holding their paint-filled weapons, including Ali.

"They were able to use the occasion to take a sort of promotional photo sealing their common sense of identity.

"It was a bonding act of preparation between men of like mind and like intent. They were doing what passed, in their limited circumstances, for training. "Three including Ali have been thwarted in their plans to get to Syria."