A TEENAGER ran into a convenience store and poured acid over a customer in an alleged revenge attack after his friend was shot.

Archie Harding, of Kursaal Way, Southend, has been warned to expect a jail sentence after leaving a 19-year-old man with chemical burns to his left arm, ear and hand.

Harding entered the store in North Road, Westcliff, alongside former kebab shop worker Leban Elmi - who was shot near the Malvern flats tower block, off Coleman Street, Southend, two months earlier.

Elmi, 22, of Kirkwood Road, south-east London, survived the incident but spent time in hospital recovering.

At the time of the acid attack, on Thursday, June 30, he still had 12 shotgun pellets lodged in his abdomen.

The pair appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Friday, where 19-year-old Harding admitted applying a corrosive fluid, criminal damage and affray.

He denied grievous bodily harm, with the charge to lie on file.

Elmi also denied grievous bodily harm in relation to the alleged revenge attack, and will stand trial later this year.

He pleaded guilty to a string of other offences, including affray and possession of an offensive weapon- a wheel lock.

Elmi also admitted possession with intent to supply crack cocaine after 26.3grams of the drug were found up his bottom when he was x-rayed at Royal London Hospital following the shooting, on Monday, April 18.

Harding will not be sentenced until the conclusion of Elmi’s trial.

Mike Warren, defending Elmi, said: “It would appear that although Mr Harding is accepting responsibility for applying the corrosive fluid, the Crown Prosecution Service are stating that Mr Elmi is culpable for the GBH with intent.

“We would ask that no sentence is passed until this GBH matter is resolved.”

John Keal, mitigating for Harding, said: “This is something of an outlier, a very, very serious one.

“He is under no illusion about what the sentence will be.”

Elmi will return to court for trial on Monday, November 21.

A 19-year-old and an 18-year-old arrested on suspicion of attempted murder over the shooting have been bailed until Thursday, November 24.