A MAN who allegedly sent a parcel bomb to his estranged stepmother did not have the skill to construct the device, a court heard.

Wayne Jefferies is accused of sending an IED disguised as a parcel addressed to Sandra Jefferies which she opened at her home in Othello Close, Colchester.

The device made up of a shoebox, batteries, matches, gas cannisters, metal tacks, explosive powder and triggered by clothes pegs upon opening began to hiss and emit smoke before setting fire to the house. Mrs Jefferies escaped without serious injury.

Jefferies, 55, was arrested shortly afterwards the bomb went off in December 2016 and later charged with causing an explosion.

It is alleged he had a burning sense of grievance against Mrs Jefferies and her husband, Victor, after claiming they abused him when he was a child.

The police investigated his claims and passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service who decided to take no further action at the time or after Jefferies unsuccessfully appealed.

Following two weeks of evidence l at Ipswich Crown Court, Stephen Rose, defending for Jefferies, said police had used a theory Jefferies had planted the bomb and worked backwards.

He said: “There is no direct evidence Mr Jefferies gathered the component parts, constructed the device, delivered the device or addressed the device.

“There is no neighbour saying there were loud noises, lights on at a funny time of night or an odd smell from the defendant’s flat.

“There is no direct evidence to assist you as to how this parcel is delivered.

“It appears someone has ghosted into Othello Close without anybody seeing his car or however he got there, planted the device and got away.

“There is no evidence he built an explosive device in his flat.

“Are you going to convince yourself just because he has a soldering iron he is a bomber? There is no evidence he has any knowledge of explosives.”

Christopher Paxton, prosecuting, said Jefferies’ had brought “terror” to his family’s home and the decision not to give evidence showed he had built and sent the device.

He said: “He stands accused of causing a grave and serious crime but he has not uttered one word in his defence in this court.

“We say that is because he has no explanation which will stand up to scrutiny.”

Mr Paxton said it was only Jefferies who had the motive to send the bomb.

Judge Martyn Levett will invite the jury to consider their verdict tomorrow