Drunk pensioner’s death threat to West Lothian family

Nov 19 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A DRUNK pensioner who threatened to kill his family after a late night argument has been fined.

Hugh Yardley, 68, poured a bottle of rum on a rug in his house and tried to set it alight as his horrified wife, son and grandson looked on.

Yardley had come home drunk at 12.30am on July 6 this year after a heavy drinking session.

Fiscal depute Claire Martin told Livingston Sheriff Court that the pensioner became abusive and argumentive towards his wife and grandson who was there.

His son soon arrived and Yardley started on him as well saying he was going to “burn the house down” with them in it and also stab them with a knife.

“He said none of them would be alive in the morning,” Ms Martin added.

“He then poured a bottle of rum over a rug and produced a lighter and attempted to set light to the rug.”

In the argument a television screen was also smashed.

Police officers were called and soon arrived and arrested Yardley.

Last week Yardley, whose address was given as Norman Rise, Livingston, pled guilty to breaching the peace by uttering threats of violence and also admitted attempting to set fire to the carpet all to the danger of injury to his family.

His solicitor, Laura Russell, told the court her client, who has 15 years’ military service, had been in contact with his wife and family and wished to reconcile with them.

“Reading between the lines that may be some way off yet,” Ms Russell added.

“It seems to have been a one-off incident.

“He says he regularly drinks alcohol but, unfortunately, he does not seem to have had any assistance with that at all.

“I appreciate that charge two in particular will give your lordship some concern.

“This may be a case that the court will want to monitor as he is at an early stage of trying to tackle his alcohol problem.

“He has very limited previous convictions and you have to look back to 2002 for his last one.”

However, Sheriff Graeme Warner was content to deal with the case without a further deferral of sentence and fined the pensioner £200 for the offences.