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| DVLA letter bomb woman 'shunned' | DVLA letter bomb woman 'shunned' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A woman who opened a letter bomb was shunned by colleagues who were also hurt in the blast, a court has heard. | A woman who opened a letter bomb was shunned by colleagues who were also hurt in the blast, a court has heard. |
| Karen Andrews opened the envelope at the DVLA headquarters in Swansea on 7 February after a spate of similar attacks across the country. | Karen Andrews opened the envelope at the DVLA headquarters in Swansea on 7 February after a spate of similar attacks across the country. |
| Mrs Andrews told Oxford Crown Court some colleagues blamed her and refused to work with her after the incident. | Mrs Andrews told Oxford Crown Court some colleagues blamed her and refused to work with her after the incident. |
| Miles Cooper, 27, from Cambridge, denies 12 charges related to letter bomb attacks in January and February. | Miles Cooper, 27, from Cambridge, denies 12 charges related to letter bomb attacks in January and February. |
| Mr Cooper allegedly sent seven letter bombs, five of which exploded, injuring eight people. | Mr Cooper allegedly sent seven letter bombs, five of which exploded, injuring eight people. |
| The locations were Abingdon in Oxfordshire, Culham near Abingdon, Birmingham, Folkestone in Kent, Victoria in central London, Wokingham in Berkshire, and Swansea. | |
| 'Just joking' | 'Just joking' |
| Mrs Andrews told the court that, as she opened the envelope, she joked: "Do we think this is suspicious?" | Mrs Andrews told the court that, as she opened the envelope, she joked: "Do we think this is suspicious?" |
| One manager even wanted me to apologise to people for what I did that day Karen AndrewsOxford Crown Court The 'mail bomb' devices | One manager even wanted me to apologise to people for what I did that day Karen AndrewsOxford Crown Court The 'mail bomb' devices |
| She added: "I was just joking. It was because it was a Jiffy bag and because of what had been on the news." | She added: "I was just joking. It was because it was a Jiffy bag and because of what had been on the news." |
| She opened an envelope inside the original package and saw a bright flash and heard a very loud bang. | She opened an envelope inside the original package and saw a bright flash and heard a very loud bang. |
| Mrs Andrews said she now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and permanent tinnitus, and is left with a large scar on her upper chest from stitches. | Mrs Andrews said she now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and permanent tinnitus, and is left with a large scar on her upper chest from stitches. |
| She told the court: "I've been forced out of my department because some colleagues refuse to work with me. | She told the court: "I've been forced out of my department because some colleagues refuse to work with me. |
| "One manager even wanted me to apologise to people for what I did that day." | "One manager even wanted me to apologise to people for what I did that day." |
| 'Blacked out' | |
| The court also heard from Richard Gorringe, of accountancy firm Vantis in Wokingham, Berkshire, who opened a letter sent to safety camera manufacturer Speed Check. | |
| He said: "I opened the inside envelope but then things got a bit blurry for me. | |
| "When I pulled it out, I assume that's when it exploded and I think I blacked out a bit. | |
| "When I came to, there was a loud ringing in my ears and my vision was a bit blurry." | |
| Mr Gorringe received injuries to his hands which prevented him playing golf for three months. | |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |