Mum tells of gassing threat

A MOTHER told a court how her ex-partner threatened to gas her children and himself.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed Richard Boulton made the chilling threat in an early evening phone call to her, while the youngsters were in his care.

A female friend, who was in the house with the terrified mother, overheard the conversation and called the police.

Officers went to Boulton’s home in Mid Calder, West Lothian, and gained entry to the house by pretending that someone had crashed his car.

They found the children safe and well and arrested Boulton, Livingston Sheriff Court was told. Boulton, 27, was convicted after trial yesterday of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person alarm or distress. Sentence was deferred for reports.