A 16-year-old boy was watched by undercover police as he collected a pump-action shotgun from a ‘safe house’ in Wembley, a court heard.

The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was allegedly recruited to move the 12-bore Mossberg from the Ealing Road home of 32-year-old Tawana Blake.

Surveillance officers watched as he was dropped off at Blake’s address on January 21 this year.

Police moved in after the left the house and got into a minicab with a holdall containing the shotgun.

Prosecutor Sam Brown told the Old Bailey: “The minicab was followed by detectives and the minicab was boxed in at a junction in Wembley High Road.

“The shotgun was in a holdall and he was detained by two police officers.”

Blake was also arrested and a search of her home revealed a pistol and £1,000 in cash in a fruitbowl.

She has since admitted her involvement in the plot to move the shotgun, jurors were told.

The boy is now on trial with Robert Hewitt, 42, of Connaught Road, Harlesden, and Corey Callender, 22, from Bushey.

Hewitt is said to have arranged the handover with Blake in a series of text messages.

It is claimed Callender made a series of calls to the 16 year-old boy and dropped him off at Blake’s house to collect the gun. He made no comment in police interview.

Mr Brown told the court that the three accused may try to blame someone else for getting them involved in the conspiracy.

He said: “The evidence suggests they were all party to a conspiracy as opposed to them associated by an accident or being misled.”

All three deny conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon for sale or transfer between January 18 and January 22.