JURORS have retired in the trial of three young men accused of helping a teenage jihadi follow in his older brother's footsteps and join fighters in Syria.

Forhad Rahman, from Cranhams Lane, Chesterton, Cirencester, along with Kristen Brekke and Adeel Ulhaq all allegedly played their part in the plan to get Aseel Muthana to the wartorn country.

Muthana was just 17 when he left home in Cardiff on February 21, 2014 to join the ranks of Islamic State, and he has not returned.

He followed his older brother, Nasser Muthana, who travelled there with four other young men from Cardiff three months before, the Old Bailey heard.

Nasser later achieved "notoriety" when he and other young men made a propaganda video for Islamic State called There Is No Life Without Jihad, which was released in June 2014, the court heard.

Rahman, 21, allegedly helped Muthana, now 19, get a passport and paid for his flight as well as coach ticket to Gatwick.

He put him in touch with Ulhaq for travel advice, jurors were told.

Rahman, an Addison Lee call centre worker, had an interest in Islamic extremist material and frequently expressed a strong interest in travelling to Syria himself, the court heard.

He allegedly knew at the time he helped Muthana that it was dangerous in Syria as two months before, an acquaintance called Iftekhar Jaman, was killed in battle.

Brekke, 20, who befriended Muthana at an ice cream parlour in Cardiff where they worked, allegedly bought kit on eBay, such as camouflage clothes.

The Muslim convert did internet research for Muthana and allowed the teenager to use his computer, jurors were told.

Ulhaq, 21, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, provided "valuable advice" in online discussions demonstrating a "great deal of knowledge" about the armed conflict in Syria, the court heard.

Rahman and Ulhaq were said to be part of an online network of friends and acquaintances who were committed to the violent struggle in Syria.

Rahman, along with Brekke, of Pentre Street, Grangetown, Cardiff and Ulhaq, of Westbourne Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, deny preparing for acts of terrorism. Ulhaq also denies terror funding.

The Old Bailey jury was sent out to begin deliberating on its verdicts by Judge Rebecca Poulet QC just before 3pm.