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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Peter Craig & Kelly-Ann Mills

Murderer who stabbed ex-partner and son to death before 24-hour manhunt is jailed

A man has been jailed for 40 years for killing his ex-girlfriend and her nine-year-old son at their home before attempting to stab an off-duty cop who tried to arrest him.

Daniel Boulton was found guilty of the murders of Bethany Vincent, 26, and her son Darren Henson, who were found dead in Louth, Lincolnshire last May.

Ms Vincent suffered nine stab wounds, one of which was 20cm in depth and passed through her heart.

As Boulton was sentenced, a victim impact statement was read on behalf of her mum, Caroline Vincent.

It read: "I did not want to believe them that Bethany had passed away. My beautiful girl and grandson were gone. Boulton has destroyed my family.

“He has not only taken my girl and grandson, he has also taken my world. No mother should have to bury their daughter and grandson."

Daniel Boulton was arrested a day after the stabbings (PA)

Darren's dad, Kieran, also told the court he said farewell to his son at 4pm on May 31 - and awoke hours later to be told by police: “Your son is no longer with us."

He said: "Those words haunt me. It tears me apart not being able to see him. To see him with his favourite football team.

"I won’t see him buy his first pint on his 18th birthday and will never hear him say or shout 'Daddy.'

"I have gone from being a dad to not being a dad."

Sentencing Boulton to 40 years for both murders, Mr Justice Pepperall said Boulton was “manipulative and controlling“ and "became frustrated" when he didn't get his own way.

He described his actions as “vile psychological abuse.”

The judge said Boulton was a "very dangerous man", adding that it will be at least 40 years before Boulton is considered for parole.

"It might be you are never released," he added.

Bethany Vincent and Darren were murdered (Facebook)

Lincoln Crown Court previously heard that on the day of the murders, Boulton walked 28 miles from a hostel in Skegness to Ms Vincent's home.

Both Ms Vincent and son Darren, who was autistic, were found by the ambulance service with multiple stab wounds as Boulton ran off.

Jurors were told Boulton's relationship with Ms Vincent began to crumble in November 2020 as she prioritised Darren - whom Boulton developed a hatred for.

Prosecutor Katherine Goddard QC said the relationship began in March 2019 but deteriorated within months, marked by the defendant's "increasing violence" towards Ms Vincent and her parents.

Ms Goddard told the court a complaint to police led to a restraining order stopping Boulton from contacting her, before a further one was then made after a separate incident in February 2021.

But the defendant continued to contact his ex via calls, messages and "unannounced and uninvited visits to her home", the court heard.

On the day of the murder, Boulton was seen running from an alleyway leading to the back of the ex's house and told witnesses to call an ambulance before "casually" walking away.

Paramedics found Ms Vincent curled in a ball in the living room, and Darren on his bed, both "clearly already dead".

The court also heard a baby was found crawling around in the property when emergency services arrived.

Boulton's defence argued his personality disorder caused him to lose control and kill them.

He began experiencing suicidal thoughts as he tried to stick to a restraining order imposed for previous violence towards Ms Vincent, the court heard.

Boulton knifed them both to death (Facebook)

Boulton told a psychiatrist that "auto-pilot did the job for me", he did not know how many times he stabbed the young mum, and the first few stabs of her son "weren't me".

Following his conviction for murder, Lincolnshire Police released CCTV of how they tracked him done following a 24-hour manhunt.

He was spotted by PC Denniss while walking his dog, with the pursuit by officers captured on the police helicopter camera.

Boulton was shown running through a farmyard before urging police to shoot him.

He could then be seen walking out of the farmyard and climbing a fence into a field before an officer aimed their Taser at him.

Police detained Boulton and recovered a silver kitchen knife from him.

The force also published bodycam footage of him being put into a police van where he can be heard saying: "I know I'm an evil b*****d but can you get me some water please?"

Bethany and nine-year-old Darren (Grimsby Telegraph/MEN Media)

Boulton admitted the manslaughter of Ms Vincent and her autistic son but denied their murders.

Following the trial Detective Inspector Andy McWatt, from East Midlands Special Operation Unit, who led the investigation, said it was a "tragic and sad" case.

He stated: “This was a very tragic and sad incident which not only shattered the world of Bethany and Darren’s family, but deeply affected the community and those entrusted to investigate and prosecute this horrendous offence.

“My deepest condolences go to the family who have shown such bravery throughout this investigation.

Boulton was found guilty of both murders (Grimsby Telegraph/MEN Media)
He was sentenced today (PA)

“I would also like to thank the local community and witnesses for their support during this trial, and recognise the work of our officers and teams, and the Crown Prosecution Service, who secured this conviction.

“I know the family will never get over losing their loved ones, but I hope this conviction gives them some closure.”

Boulton was also been sentenced to 21 months for assaulting a police officer and 32 months for burglary. They will run concurrently

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