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Train station worker who spiked boss's coffee with detergent for 'revenge' is jailed

Aurora Iacomi, 31, arrives at Inner London Crown Court for sentencing after she admitted putting cleaning fluid into her supervisor's coffee flask at Fenchurch Street railway station on April 22.
Aurora Iacomi arrives at Inner London Crown Court for sentencing after she admitted putting cleaning fluid into her supervisor's coffee flask. (PA)

A train station worker who spiked her supervisor’s coffee with cleaning detergent has been jailed for 10 months.

Aurora Iacomi, 31, poured the liquid into Angelina Raychinova’s flask while it sat in the staff room at Fenchurch Street station in London on 22 April.

The pair had been involved in an “ongoing disagreement” at the time of the incident.

The victim drank from the flask after the detergent had been added, but then spat it out.

A court heard how Iacomi, a cleaner, tried to justify her actions as a “prank” intended to annoy her victim, who had left her feeling “humiliated” through a telling off.

But at a sentencing hearing at Inner London Crown Court, Judge Benedict Kelleher said Iacomi was motivated by “revenge” and had not taken care to know the level of risk her actions entailed.

He handed her a 10-month sentence for one count of administering a noxious substance with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy.

Aurora Iacomi, 31, arrives at Inner London Crown Court for sentencing after she admitted putting cleaning fluid into her supervisor's coffee flask at Fenchurch Street railway station on April 22.
Aurora Iacomi pleaded guilty to a charge of administering a poison with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy. (PA)

Iacomi, who has no previous convictions and was supported by her sister at court, had pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on 22 May.

Prosecutor Philip Allman told the court there had been a “history of work-related tension” between Iacomi and her colleague.

He also said Ms Raychinova had “previous issues with one colleague, this defendant”.

Iacomi, originally from Romania but now living in Ilford, east London, told police she was “having trouble” with Ms Raychinova and had been subject to an internal disciplinary hearing at her company.

“She explained that she was not very fond of Ms Raychinova,” Allman said.

He said the substance dropped into the drink was Graffi Green, which was “cleaning liquid to remove graffiti”.

Antony Lane, defending, said: “This was an ongoing disagreement between her and her supervisor.

“When she went into the staff room she saw the complainant with a flask of coffee.

View of fron of Fenchurch street station on a weekend when it is shut as it serves weekday commuter traffic. The building dates back to 1850's. A black London taxi is stopped outside
Aurora Iacomi poured the liquid into her boss’s flask while it sat in the staff room at Fenchurch Street station in London. (Getty)

“It was an opportunistic decision to pour something in. The intention was to ruin her coffee, nothing more.”

Ms Raychinova did not describe any injuries other than an “initial burning sensation” before she spat the liquid out, Lane said.

Sentencing, Judge Kelleher said it was “clear” from the case that Iacomi felt “unfairly treated” by her victim and “wanted revenge”.

He said Iacomi’s actions were “premeditated” and intended to cause “some harm” because of a “grudge” she held.

The judge highlighted that Iacomi “did not know the level of risk” she was exposing Ms Raychinova to.

The prosecution chose not to pursue a charge of administering poison or noxious substance so as to endanger life, to which Iacomi entered a not guilty plea.

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