A Colchester man accused of making and sending a parcel bomb to his father and step-mother’s home has been cleared by a jury.

Before Ipswich Crown Court was Wayne Jeffries, 54, of Glisson Square, Colchester, who denied causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property on December 2016.

The jury retired to consider its verdict on Tuesday and returned with a not guilty verdict this morning.

It was alleged that Jeffries made and sent the parcel bomb to the home of his father and step-mother because he had a “burning sense of grievance” towards them for alleged abuse he suffered as a child.

The court heard that Mrs Jeffries’ hair and clothing were singed by the device which was packed with hundreds of metal tacks and exploded with such force at her home in Othello Close, Colchester, that it damaged the house and dislodged a loft hatch by several feet.

After his arrest Jeffries, who didn’t give evidence during his trial, denied making or sending the device.