News

A primary school caretaker has appeared in court charged over a series of letter bombings, including one in Folkestone.

Miles Cooper, 27, is accused of 12 offences under the Explosive Substances Act and the Offences Against the Person Act.

Cooper, who appeared at Banbury magistrates court in Oxfordshire, was arrested at his home on the outskirts of Cambridge at around 3am on Monday following a surveillance operation.

One charge relates to an alleged letter bomb that was sent to a house in Folkestone at the start of this month.

It alleges that on February 3, he "maliciously caused by gunpowder or other explosive substance" an explosion likely to endanger life contrary to Section 2 Explosive Substances Act 1883.

Seven of the 12 charges relate to seven letter bombs, three of which were posted to forensic science laboratories, one to a residential address and another three to companies with links to traffic enforcement.

The other five charges against Cooper, under Offences Against the Person Act, relate to the people who actually opened the alleged letter bombs.

One alleges that at Folkestone on February 3, he "unlawfully and maliciously" caused grievous bodily harm to Michael Winfield with intent to do to another grievous bodily harm.

Cooper was remanded in custody and will next appear at Oxford Crown Court on March 2.