A PAIR of red clothes pegs bought from Wilkinsons were used to ensure the device would detonate when opened, a court heard.

The bomb delivered to Sandra Jeffries’ house in Othello Close, Colchester, was examined by a team of experts in the aftermath of the explosion.

Their findings likened the IED to a high offensive grenade which used two lithium batteries as a power source and were connected to an electrical circuit and clothes pegs which were used as a victim operated trigger.

The device was also loaded with metal tacks and other shrapnel.

Halstead Gazette: Explosion in Othello Close, Greenstead, Colchester..Defendant Wayne Jeffries

Christopher Paxton, prosecuting, said similar pegs were dumped in a communal bin in Holly Road, Colchester, near to where Jeffries’ “only friend in the world” Elizabeth Coverdale lived.

He explained Jeffries had keys to her house and was looking after the property while she was in hospital in December 2016.

There is also CCTV of Jeffries buying pegs from the Wilkinson’s store in Colchester town centre three weeks before the explosion.

It is also alleged a DPD courier’s note which had been placed on the IED had originally been used at Mrs Coverdale’s house to tell her she had missed a delivery of nutritional substances.

Mr Paxton said Jeffries had taken the piece of paper when he let himself into her home and used it to add “credence and legitimacy” to the package he allegedly sent.

He said: “It started life as a delivery card to Mrs Coverdale on December 9 and was reused and recycled on the package that exploded.

“It is a link between the defendant and the device.”

While searching Jeffries’ home police also found a list of names with the word “Boom” written on top as a heading.

Neither Sandra nor Victor Jeffries appeared but the name of the detective who investigated his dismissed claims against them was written on it.